AAED’s Northern Economic Development Regional Symposium to Address ‘Designing Downtowns for Economic Success’

(PHOENIX – Sept. 12, 2016)  The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED)’s Northern Economic Development Regional Symposium will address “Designing Downtowns for Economic Success.”   The symposium will be held Oct. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Cottonwood Public Safety, 199 S. Sixth Street in Cottonwood.

Kimber Lanning, founder and executive director of Local First Arizona, will provide the keynote address at 9:30 a.m.  She will focus on how local programs can equal successes for downtowns.

The symposium will also feature a presentation on “Strategies for Downtown Quality of Life” by Juliana L. Brutsche, director of business development for AZ Culture, and a partnership update from the Arizona Commerce Authority’s Keith Watkins, the organization’s  senior vice president for economic and rural development.

There will also be two panel discussions.  The first, “Downtown Partnerships That Work,” will be moderated by Wendy Bridges, economic development coordinator for the city of Prescott, and will feature speakers Kendall Jaspers, director of Prescott Downtown Partnership, Inc.; David McIntire, community investment director for the city of Flagstaff; and Casey Rooney, economic development director for the city of Cottonwood.

The second panel discussion, “Stakeholder Development for Success,” will be moderated by Bennett Bratley, director, Mohave County Economic Development.  The panelists for this session will be Liza Noland, president of Ignite Brand Marketing; Steve Ayers, economic development director for the town of Camp Verde; and Bobby Davis, economic development specialist for the town of Payson.

The cost of the symposium is $50 for AAED members and guests and $65 for non-members if registered by noon on Oct. 19.  Late registration is $70.  To register, visit www.aaed.com/event/aaedoct26yh.  For more information, call AAED at (602) 240-AAED (2233), or visit www.aaed.com.   Vegetarian meals must be requested in advance.

AAED, founded in 1974, has a mission to serve as Arizona’s unified voice advocating for responsible economic development through an effective program of professional education, public policy, and collaboration.

For more information on AAED, visit www.aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.