2015 Federal Economic Development Forum

Register by Friday, February 27, and save with our regular registration rates. NEW Hotel for 2015!

“Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?” ~ President Barack Obama, State of the Union, January 20, 2015

President Obama delivered his State of the Union address to Congress last week, and the vast majority of his remarks centered on economic priorities for his administration in the year ahead. Focusing on an overall theme of rebuilding and strengthening the middle class, the president highlighted steps to be taken in tax reform, workforce development, education, innovation, infrastructure, and trade, to name a few.

All of these topics and more will be discussed throughout the 2015 Federal Economic Development Forum.

In the weeks ahead, the administration will roll-out tangible initiatives and programs that economic developers can utilize in their communities. With the release of the fiscal 2016 White House Budget Proposal in early February, we will see the funding behind the ideas begin to take shape. You can be sure that by attending the 2015 Federal Economic Development Forum, you will, over the course of just a few days in the Washington metro region, gain a comprehensive knowledge of current federal programs supporting economic development and insight into what the future may hold for federal resources.

We’ll cover:

• Recent changes to the federal grant applications and management that effect every community that relies on federal grants
• How the mid-term elections and upcoming presidential election will impact the legislative calendar
• The annual State of Federal Economic Development address from IEDC President & CEO Jeff Finkle
• Programs and initiatives that support the export of services and e-commerce
• The latest in manufacturing initiatives
• The role of public-private partnerships in infrastructure financing now, and in the future
• How the Water Resources Reform & Development Act will change the way water projects are selected, executed, and funded
• Federal resources from traditional and not-so traditional sources that can help revitalize your downtown or main street
• What’s at stake in the coming debate over surface transportation legislation and funding
• Making the multiple sources of federal data work for you and your community

And much, much more! Simply put: there is no other conference out there that packs as much in 2 days as the Federal Economic Development Forum.

Join us to learn about federal programs and resources, to teach our program managers and policy makers about what matters most to economic developers, and to collaborate with colleagues, officials and thought leaders on how to make the federal government your partner in local economic development.