2024 Annual Meeting TENTATIVE Agenda
The tentative agenda is typically ready in January. Highlights may be featured here until that time. It will remain tentative until the event is launched, which is typically in late May.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Fresh Ingredients
Stirring New Ideas into Time-Tested Favorites for Forward-Thinking Economic Development
Public support, infrastructure, jobs, people, streetscapes, site selector support – all longstanding key components in the recipe for economic development success – enhanced by federal investment, AI, new supply chain strategies, and comprehensive community development, can refine your economic development strategy for tomorrow.
Just when you thought you’ve had a taste of everything in economic development, there is so much more to consider when not only maintaining a place where people want to live, work, and play, but also prepare it for future business and housing development. At this year’s conference, you can gain perspective from a national level on why people are moving today, get hands on practice for communicating with constituents, and have the unique opportunity to provide impact on a microbusiness best practices guide.
As always, we have tours and activities planned that will make your visit to Michigan’s Great North memorable with unique experience, shopping, and of course, tasting.
Tuesday, August 13th
4:30 to 8:00 p.m. Early Arrivals Reception at Boyne Sky Bridge
Wednesday, August 14th
9:00 to 11:30 a.m. MEDA Board of Directors Meeting
12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Conference Registration
1:00 to 5:00 p.m. RFI Bootcamp
Quest is a national site selection and economic development consulting firm based in Greenville, SC. Quest was established in June 2018 upon the closure of McCallum Sweeney Consulting (MSC) due to the retirement of the owner, Mark Sweeney. MSC’s economic development practice transferred to Quest upon closure and has grown as Quest adapted the service offerings to reflect evolving market conditions and provide enhanced deliverables. Over the past five years, Quest has also built a robust site selection practice consisting of prior MSC clients as well as numerous new clients. Although Quest’s focus is site selection for corporate clients, Quest leverages its expertise and experience to assist economic development organizations in preparing for the challenges of attracting and retaining capital investment and employment opportunities in this competitive climate. Several of the nation’s leading economic development site readiness and certification programs were designed and implemented by the Quest team and are highly regarded for their thoroughness. Come and learn from the best and leave with tools that will assist you in showcasing your sites and community.
4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Concurrent Tours
>> Craft Beverage Tour
Visit Bee Well Mead and Cider, Mammoth Distillery, Fireside Lounge, and Shors Brewery. End at Shorts Brewery for the Opening Reception.
>> Attainable Housing Project Tour
Visit the Bellaire Lofts and learn about the components that came into this workforce housing project.
6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Opening Reception at Shorts Brewery Beer Garden
7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Trivia Night at Shorts Brewery
Thursday, August 15th
8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
8:30 a.m. Conference Welcome
8:45 a.m. Building Public Support
Gain perspective from the corporate, local, and state level, is that how you and your economic development partners can help community members understand economic development so that they celebrate company locations rather than postpone them.
Moderator: Nick Posavetz, Vice President, Plante Moran Realpoint
Panelists: Terri L. Fitzpatrick, Executive Vice President and Chief Real Estate and Global Attraction Officer; Executive Director, Office of Tribal Business Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
Stephanie Fries, MPA, EDFP, Regional Manager, Government Relations, Ford Motor Company
Tyler Rossmaessler, Executive Director, Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance
Others TBD
10:00 a.m. Networking Break
10:15 a.m. Energy Saving
11:00 a.m. Networking Break
11:15 a.m. Refining Two Key Ingredients: Infrastructure and Jobs
It's been nearly three years since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was voted on and approved. From roads and bridges to electric buses and drinking water, the bill, in which allocation was to be spread out over five years, is making a difference in many states. Learn the latest on investments in Michigan as well as what can be expected so that communities can prepare.
Moderator: Corey Utley, Consumers Energy
Panelist: Maureen Donohue Krauss, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Partnership
Invited Panelist: Senator Gary Peters
Others TBD
12:15 p.m. Lunch and Membership Meeting
1:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions 1
>> Breaking Through the Noise: Inclusive Communication and Engagement for Local Governments
You have an upcoming development or initiative in your community. How do you effectively communicate and engage this project to your residents? This session will guide you through the process of developing a tailored communication and engagement plan for your community and how to implement it. You'll learn how even the most complicated city initiatives can be communicated effectively with a well-designed plan.
Moderator: Nate Geinzer, Founder/CEO, Double Haul Solutions
Panelists: Peter Chapman, Founder & CEO, Urban Policy Innovations
Teresa Gillotti, Founder, Gillotti Community Consulting, LLC
Torri Mathes, Founder, Mathes Media
>> Best Practices for Microbusiness Ready Communities
Get a sneak peek at the Microbusiness Ready Communities standard, a best practice guide and support materials for local governments looking to support entrepreneurship and small business sustainability. With the standard set for completion and publication in fall 2024, attendees will have the opportunity to preview and provide feedback on draft materials and discuss how this work can be applied for the greatest impact in communities around Michigan.
Richard Murphy, AICP, Program Manager, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League
>> A Pinch of Planning, A Dash of Local Government Support … Making Housing Deal Happen in Rural Communities
Optimal planning, coordination, and capacity approaches can ease housing deals in rural communities. Hear from one community that has made headway local government leadership, philanthropic support, zoning changes, and other components to make development happen.
Andrea Jacobs, Emmet County Housing Ready Program Director, Housing North
Sarah Lucas, Director, Office of Rural Prosperity
2:15 p.m. Networking Break
2:30 p.m. Michigan Population Growth Initiatives
Loud and clear is the word that Michigan needs to work on attracting and retaining people in order to keep a healthy economy. Learn about not only the work of the Growing Michigan Together Council, but what individual companies are doing to keep workers, and what some organizations are doing to keep young talent in our state.
Moderator: Sam Bailey, Strategic Initiatives Manager, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance
Panelist: Jake Manthei, President, Aster Brands
Invited Panelists: Ava Attari, STEM Forward
Hilary Doe, Chief Growth Officer, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
3:30 p.m. Adjourn for Free Time or Tours
>> Northern Experience Tour
Take a ride to Central Lake for tasting, shopping, and sight-seeing. Visit King Orchards and Mammoth Distillery while you are there.
>> OPEN
6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Awards Reception at Shanty Creek
9:00 p.m. Bonfire on Shanty Creek Patio
Friday, August 16th
7:30 a.m. Registration Opens
8:00 a.m. Concurrent Sessions 2
>> Retail Follows Rooftops: How to Maximize Your City’s Growth Potential
Rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining these vital businesses. During this session we will dive into the strategies and tactics that cities can employ to attract retail businesses, explore the age-old adage of whether retail truly follows rooftops, and discuss how to promote retail real estate opportunities to right decisionmakers. The discussion will highlight unique challenges that rural communities face and steps to overcome those challenges.
Elliott Cook, Director of Real Estate, Retail Strategies
>> OPEN
>> Tribal Economic Development Today
Tribal economic development best practices, partnership, and lessons learned during the post-pandemic recovery process.
Tom Durkee, Director, Tribal Economic Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
8:45 a.m. Networking Break
9:00 a.m. Concurrent Sessions 3
>> How the Supply Chain Impacts Site Selection
We will profile a different model to supply chain site selection that is proven to be more precise in determining the total impact of the location on the total supply chain costs and the methodologies involved using short outlines of case studies of the actual projects. After determining the “optimum zone” location for the real estate, we would target locations within the “zone radius” agreed to with the client and search for sites, existing buildings, land, etc. depending on the startup targets in the client’s plan.
Invited Speakers: Paul Corbett, Director, Government and Community Affairs, MICHauto, Detroit Regional Chamber
>> Business Support through Streetscape Renovations
If you are considering a Streetscape Project, how do you provide the support that your businesses will need to minimize the impact of the disruption it will create? Having a plan will provide some re-assurances to businesses and demonstrate ongoing support throughout the entire project will ensure their success and yours. We will cover objections, gameplans, tools, partnerships, and the element of creativity to get through an entire year of construction from start to finish.
Denise Murray, Marketing Consultant, RoamInDowntown.Com
>> Housing for a Shifting Demographic
Senior housing plays a crucial role in communities by providing tailored living arrangements for older adults, ensuring their safety, comfort, and well-being. These centers offer a full suite of services, including food, recreation, specialized medical care, and other necessary amenities. Michigan's rapidly aging population is generating demand Senior housing facilities unlike any previous time. Simultaneously, as the baby boomer generation leaves the workforce, the labor force necessary to staff these senior housing settings is dwindling while demand increases. This session will address the impact this has on a community and the planning communities can do today to ensure their housing stock is adequate and fits the needs of their residents tomorrow.
Jacob Boss, Vice President, Plante Moran
10:00 a.m. Networking Break
10:15 a.m. Concurrent Sessions 4
>> Crafting the Perfect Pitch to Site Selectors, Businesses and Talent
Join TEDx speaker and Localintel CEO Dave Parsell as he reveals the potential of combining local knowledge, AI, and data visualizations to create a compelling pitch for your community. Discover how this innovative approach can make your community stand out to site selectors, businesses, and top talent, as well as how to effectively utilize this pitch across your website, social media platforms, and other marketing channels.
Dave Parsell, CEO, Localintel
>> Unique Housing Projects
Jill Ferrari, Managing Partner, Renovare
Shannon Morgan, Renovare
>> The Role of Community Development in Economic Prosperity
Community development plays a pivotal role in driving long-term economic prosperity. The symbiotic relationship between vibrant places and economic progress creates the “it factor” regions need today and in the future to both retain and attract talent and business. This session will explore the role community development plays in economic development. We will delve into community development as a multifaceted strategy that extends economic development into areas of placemaking, real estate redevelopment, infrastructure, municipal relationships, and more.
Tim Mroz, Senior Vice President, Community Development, The Right Place, Inc.
11:15 a.m. Short Break
11:20 a.m. Why Their Site Was Selected
This year’s site selectors panel will focus on winning sites.
Moderator: Susan Proctor, External Affairs Executive Director, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Potential Panelists: TBD
12:30 p.m. General Session OR Adjournment
