Request For Proposals: Conference Sessions
We are currently seeking sessions for both the winter and summer 2026 EDAM conferences.
Session Submission Deadline: Friday, October 10, 2025
Submit Now
CONFERENCE INFORMATION
Winter 2026
Dates: January 22-23, 2026
Location: St. Louis Park, MN
Venue: DoubleTree Minneapolis Park Place
Summer 2026
Dates: TBD - mid-June 2026
Location: Greater Minnesota
Venue: Coming soon
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.
2026 EDUCATIONAL THEME: Investing in you, investing in us, investing in Minnesota
We are seeking sessions that focus on our broad theme or incorporating the following topics. 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. Sessions not selected for a 2026 conference may be considered for another EDAM educational offering such as a webinar or Building Your Toolbox event.
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 board management, 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.
Tools to advance development in your community
- Sessions based around new funding and skill development around existing tools/funds. Could also include approaches to creative placemaking and leveraging the arts for community engagement.
- Learning goals: learning about new programs or gaining additional skills with existing programs and tools (i.e. TIF, LAHA, bonds, grants, etc.).
Technological advances and the impact on economic development
- Sessions focused on the evolving technological landscape (AI, cybersecurity, etc.), economic development applications, and policy concerns.
- Learning goals: learning about new technologies, practical applications, and best practices/policies for use of these tools.
The intersection of economic development with housing and workforce development
- Sessions that feature workforce development initiatives and/or housing projects that demonstrate a connection to economic development.
- Learning goals: understanding the link between ED, workforce and housing.
The intersection of economic development with climate change and environmental justice
- Sessions that feature projects, initiatives, or policy focused on green and clean energy that
demonstrate a connection to economic development, especially how communities are adapting to changes in policy and approaches to new paradigms in climate change response.
- Learning goals: understanding the link between ED, climate change, environmental justice, 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.
Interorganizational/intergovernmental cooperation and partnership
- Sessions focused on multiple organizations working together to achieve common goals.
- Learning goals: understanding the opportunities and challenges of partnerships to achieve economic development goals.