The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) will hold its Annual Conference from Sept. 25-28, 2016 at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The program theme,Economic Development Through Technology, Innovation and Productivity,will highlight the changes in the economic development industry, current rising trends and best practices. This year’s conference coincides with IEDC’s 90th anniversary, and will include special events to celebrate the milestone.

“We’re thrilled to have the City of Cleveland and the entire Northeast Ohio region host IEDC’s 2016 Annual Conference, which is shaping up to be one of our largest ever attended events.” 
- Barry Matherly, CEcD, FM, President & CEO, Greater Richmond Partnership, Richmond, Virginia, and 2016 IEDC chair of the board of directors.

The conference will feature a series of informational sessions on topics such as the sharing economy and international exchange; receptions for networking and celebrating the 90^th anniversary; and workshops on topics such as ethics in the profession.

In addition to the scheduled sessions, workshops and receptions, attendees will have the opportunity to explore Cleveland by registering for educational tours of different areas of the city. Cleveland’s rise to prosperity and economic rebirth provide the backdrop for the conference’s message of innovation in economic development.

The featured keynote speakers will include:

• Clarence Anthony – Executive Director, National League of Cities, Washington, D.C.
• Angela Glover Blackwell - President and Chief Executive Officer, PolicyLink, Oakland, CA
• Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator from Ohio, Washington, D.C.
• Toby Cosgrove M.D. – President and Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
• Frank Jackson – Mayor, City of Cleveland since 2006
• Janet L. Kavandi – Director – NASA’s John H. Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
• Mathy V. Stanislaus – Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.

In addition to these keynote speakers, respected professionals from across the spectrum of the economic development profession will lead concurrent sessions and provide unique perspectives on a range of key topics.

“This year’s program reflects the current priorities that every economic developer is facing, and program content will help us all build upon our individual strategic objectives, plus to tackle the unique issues of our communities,” said Matherly.

Conference admission is $860 for IEDC members and $1040 for nonmembers. Students receive discounted rates. Event registration can be done online through the Annual Conference website. More information and a detailed schedule of events can be found on the website as well as in the e-brochure, available for download from the homepage.