One Day Conference on Regional Economic Development to be Held in Madison

MADISON—Planners, public officials, economic development practitioners, and citizens interested in learning about regional economic development should attend the Association of Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission’s Regional Economic Development Conference, to be held May 2, 2007 from 9:30 a.m.– 6:00 p.m. at the Madison Concourse Hotel.

“I encourage anyone interested in regional economic development to attend this informative conference,” says Department of Commerce Secretary Mary P. Burke. “By forming public/private partnerships and working regionally, we can all help advance economic development throughout the state.”

The conference will offer national and Wisconsin perspectives on regional economic development. The session will provide a review of best practices, opportunities, and needed improvements to effectively promote economic development in regions throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. Featured speakers are James Otterstein, former Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) President, who will offer suggestions for regional economic development future; and Myron Orfield, University of Minnesota Law professor, who will focus on regional cooperation and Minnesota approaches to regional economic development. There will also be a roundtable discussion focusing on the best practices from other states and regions to achieve regional economic developments.

The conference fee is $35. Conference brochures and registration information are available at http://www.wisconsinplanners.org/events/events.htm.

The conference is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce: Economic Development Administration, National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), State of Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Association of Wisconsin Regional Planning Commissions (AWRPC), and Wisconsin Chapter American Planning Association (WAPA).

For more information contact Thomas Favour, Conference Coordinator, at 608-238-4943, tfavour@aol.com.