"Smart" Economic Development: The Advantages of Cutting-Edge Tech Tools

Date: February 18, 2015
Time:  2:30–4:00 p.m. EST
Contact: [email protected]

The term "smart city" refers to a community's use of technology to streamline municipal processes, from trash pickup to firefighting services. But economic developers can use these tools to optimize their efforts too.

Economic developers can now make decisions about multi-million dollar projects, such as a rail line, or small projects, such as a retail revitalization plan, by tapping into the power of advanced economic analytical tools to calculate ROI. Showcasing your community's smart projects can enhance your brand, attracting new resources and talent.

In this webinar, you will learn:

• New tools to make your efforts more efficient and targeted 
• Ways to justify economic development projects with strong data 
• How to eliminate economic blind spots on large, complex government investments

Speakers:

Michelle Cullen 
Global Community Lead and Content Creator 
IBM 
Washington, DC

Michelle currently focuses on Smarter Cities thought leadership for IBM, where she has also worked on innovation within emerging markets and public sector consulting. Before joining IBM, Michelle spent a decade as an international development practitioner, specializing in post-conflict reconstruction with the World Bank. She is currently pursuing her PhD with the London School of Economics' Cities Programme and is a Visiting Smarter Cities Fellow at Virginia Tech's Metropolitan Institute.

Kevin Johns 
Director 
Economic Growth and Redevelopment Office 
Austin, TX

Mr. Johns is Director of Austin, Texas' Economic Growth and Redevelopment Office. In this capacity he is responsible for a nationally recognized team of 45 economic specialists, in the areas of urban and downtown regeneration, water front revitalization, trade and global commerce, expansion of the music and digital industries, the cultural arts network, and includes the nation's top small business solutions team. His accomplishments include over 230 public successful private partnerships in communities across America.

"Smart" Economic Development: The Advantages of Cutting-Edge Tech Tools  – Register Today!