Request For Proposals: Conference Sessions
We are currently seeking sessions for both the winter and summer 20234 EDAM conferences.
Session Submission Deadline: Monday, October 23, 2023
Submit Now
CONFERENCE INFORMATION
Winter 2024
Dates: January 25-26, 2024
Location: Bloomington, MN
Venue: Hyatt Regency Bloomington
Summer 2024
Dates: June 19-21, 2024
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Venue: River's Edge Convention Center
SESSION DURATION
It’s expected that proposed sessions would consist of approximately 45 minutes of presentation followed by 15 minutes of open question & answer.
KEYNOTE IDEAS
Whether you submit a session or not, we would love to hear your suggestions for keynote speakers. Email us at
[email protected] to share recommendations.
THEMES
We are seeking sessions that focus on or incorporate the following themes, in addition to other topics presenters think would be of interest to the EDAM audience. If your proposed session doesn't fit into one of the topics listed below, we still encourage you to submit! We would love to hear what you have to offer.
Supporting and incentivizing entrepreneurship
- Sessions that focus on programs and policies that support and grow entrepreneurship.
- Learning goals: practical policy and programmatic solutions to foster a healthy entrepreneurial environment in communities of any size across the state.
Leadership and professional skills development
- Sessions that focus on professional skills including leadership development, mental health and well-being at work, organizational change, etc.
- Learning goals: space to share professional challenges with other like minded individuals, thinking about our work beyond the day to day deals and tasks and more about how to create healthy and effective teams, project management skills, and more.
The power of diversity and inclusion in economic development
- Sessions that are centered around fostering, promoting, and advancing diversity and inclusion through economic development.
- Learning goals: creation of programs and policies that identify and advance DEI goals of an organization or community.
Tools to advance development in your community
- Sessions based around new funding and skill development around existing tools/funds.
- Learning goals: learning about new programs or gaining additional skills with existing programs and tools (i.e. TIF, bonds, grants, etc.).
The intersection of economic development with housing, workforce development, climate change, and environmental justice
- Sessions that feature workforce development initiatives, housing projects and projects focused on green and clean energy that demonstrate a connection to economic development.
- Learning goals: understanding the link between ED, workforce, housing, climate change, and other policy areas.
Challenges and opportunities in small communities
- Sessions based around challenges specific to small and/or rural communities and innovative approaches to addressing them.
- Learning goals: a chance for ED professionals from smaller communities to learn from each other and share solutions.