Federal Economic Development Forum
Building a Competitive Future Through Innovative Partnerships
March 20-22 │ Washington, DC Metro Area

http://www.iedconline.org/FederalForum/index.html

Put your economic development organization and community on the road to identifying free federal resources that can help drive innovation and job creation in your local economy.

A wealth of free federal information is at your fingertips at the Federal Forum, whether it be access to data, decision-makers, or dollars. Come learn how to access and take advantage of new 2010 Census information that can track your region's competitiveness and changing resources, and interpret employment statistics to stay on top of emerging trends. The Forum will also connect you with the federal decision-makers who impact your region but may be unaware of your region's unique assets and challenges. Finally, IEDC will help you identify untapped federal funds and discover the opportunities available to your community. You will master the tools at your disposal and learn how to match development dollars with the most promising projects in your community.

SESSIONS OF INTEREST INCLUDE:

Pre-Conference Workshop: Understanding, Using, and Maximizing New Federal Data ($)
Sunday, March 20
1:00 – 3:00 pm

Knowledge is power and the more information used to analyze local economies, the more competitive the community is in today's economy. The federal government, through various agencies, provides economic developers access to a constant stream of new information to provide a more comprehensive understanding of their local economy, including industry, workforce and demographics, for a more. Attend this workshop to learn how to take advantage of the federal data available on your community.

Show Me The Money! The Federal Version
Sunday, March 20
3:15 pm – 5:00 pm

Today's economic developers face some difficult questions. Has the tea party killed off special appropriations for economic development? Is there still stimulus money available and will it be recycled for local projects? Where are the sources of money? Find out how to get the funds your community needs in this new landscape.

Growing from Within: Supporting Small Businesses
Monday, March 21
10:15 - 11:45 am

American small businesses drive economic innovation, employ about half of all private sector workers, and deliver goods and services locally and across the globe. Yet during the Great Recession, many small businesses fell on hard times as they found less access to capital, had difficulty providing benefits to employees, and encountered other barriers to doing business. From tax credits to a new lending fund, federal programs have recently been created to help small business owners and other entrepreneurs find new avenues for success in the changing economic landscape. Learn to harness the opportunities provided in recent legislation to support small and minority-owned businesses in growing your local economy.

Dialogue with Federal Agencies: Grasping Job Creation Programs
Tuesday, March 22
8:00 - 9:30 am

Accessing Capital for Economic Renewal
Tuesday, March 22
8:00 - 9:30 am

Creating Jobs in the New Economy
Tuesday, March 22
9:45 - 11:00 am

The lack of good-paying jobs continues to weigh on the national economy. Creating the best possible environment for new employment opportunities is essential for economic recovery. Hear leading experts explore strategies for job creation and retention as America moves forward.

EXPERT SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Dennis Alvord
Executive Director
CommerceConnect
Department of Commerce
Washington, DC

Judith A. Canales
Administrator
USDA Rural Development
Washington, DC

Robert Duncan
Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of DAS Economic Development
Washington, DC

Jess B. Knox
Associate Administrator
Office of Field Operations
US Small Business Administration
Washington, DC

Charles E.M. Kolb
President
Committee for Economic Development (CED)
Washington, DC

Brian Kroll
Senior Economist
Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Richmond, VA

David Lloyd
Director
Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC

Brian P. McGowan
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
Economic Development Administration
US Department of Commerce
Washington, DC

Andrew Reamer
George Washington Institute of Public Policy (GWIPP)
Washington, DC

Phillip A. Singerman, PhD
Senior Vice President
Baker & Daniels Consulting
Washington, DC

James Spletzer
Senior Research Economist
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington, DC

Janet Tasker
Director
Office of Credit Risk Management
US Small Business Administration
Washington, DC

Mark Troppe
Manager of Strategic Partnerships
NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Department of Commerce