AAED’s Northern Economic Development Regional Symposium to Address ‘Economic Development Road Maps’

(WICKENBURG, Ariz. – Jan. 11, 2018) The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) will hold a Northern Economic Development Regional Symposium to discuss “Driving Our Future: Developing Your Economic Development Road Map.” The symposium will be held Feb. 28 from 9:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Town of Wickenburg Community Center, 160 N. Valentine St. in Wickenburg.

Chris Camacho, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and Dallas Hammit, state engineer for the Arizona Department of Transportation, will provide the keynote address at 12:30 p.m. They will discuss the future of transportation and how technology and its related projects will spur economic development and attract jobs to the state. They will also share information on how advances in analytics and highway infrastructure are creating new economic development opportunities in Arizona.

The symposium will also feature presentations on:

• “Interstate 17 Expansion and Beyond” presented by Christopher Bridges, executive director, Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization. Bridges will share how regional transportation and economic development organizations are working together and will address the need for the widening of I-17 north of Phoenix.
• “Interstate 11—Enroute to Arizona” presented by Hammit. He will provide an update on the first 2-1/2 mile southbound segment of I-11 opened in August near Boulder City, Nev., and what is planned for the future.
• “Interstate 11: Arizona Communities Planning for an Economic Boom” will feature panelists Travis Lingenfelter, Kingman city councilman; Aaron White, economic development director, town of Wickenburg; and Richard Wilkie, CEcD, AZED Pro, director of economic development, city of Casa Grande. The trio will talk about how communities are preparing for the highway’s completion and how they believe their communities will benefit.
• “Out Wickenburg Way” with Julie Brooks, executive director, Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce.
• Opening remarks will be provided by Wickenburg Mayor Everett Sickles and Casey Rooney, AAED’s northern Arizona membership chair and economic development director for the city of Cottonwood.

A walking tour of downtown Wickenburg will also be available to the attendees.

The cost of the symposium is $50 for AAED members and guests and $65 for non-members if registered by noon on Feb. 22. Late registration is $70. To register, visit www.aaed.com/event/aaedfeb28th. 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.