This yearly event will be held on Tuesday, August 23 - Friday, August 26, 2016, at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, MI.

MEDA's biggest education and networking event of the year is its Annual Meeting. This three- to four-day conference (depending on the year) includes educational sessions covering the most important economic development topics and issues of the time as well as several networking opportunities.

In order to develop the best conference, a volunteer committee of MEDA members meets regularly to plan the Annual Meeting. Click here to learn more about the Annual Meeting Committee.

This year, our focus is you and your community.

What gets you the most “bang for your buck”? Often in economic development, it’s reusing an asset that already has a foundation in the community, whether it be a building, a natural resource or the people living there.

The annual meeting will teach you how to develop an eye for aspects of your community that have the potential for greatness as well as how to rebrand and promote the unique features your community already boasts.

Thought leaders will also touch on rethinking funding, reanalyzing your region and relearning your craft so you can prepare your economic development organization’s practices to address the future needs of the economic drivers in its area.

And this year, we’re taking you out of the conference room and on location in the heart of Detroit to see the city’s diversity firsthand -- from Corktown to the world-famous Eastern Market, and an optional golf outing at Fieldstone Golf Course in Auburn Hills.

We hope that you will join us in Michigan’s All-American Comeback City because no matter how big or small your community may be, YOU are an integral piece of Michigan’s economy, Michigan’s diversity and Michigan’s history.

Agenda

Wednesday, August 24th

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 20th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing at Fieldstone Golf Club
The Annual Scholarship Golf Outing is a fun networking opportunity and an event for golfers of all skill levels. Proceeds from the Golf Outing go towards MEDA's Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance for economic developers who would otherwise not be able to afford valuable training.

2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Registration
Avoid standing in line early Thursday morning by registering and picking up materials as you check in. This is also a good time to pay if you have not, ask any questions that you have and network with fellow attendees as they arrive.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Opening Reception at the Detroit Athletic Club
MEDA’s Opening Reception is the perfect spot to reconnect with old friends and make new ones while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and taking in the view.

8:00 p.m. Downtown Pub Crawl/Meet-up
For more info, contact Ara Topouzian, 248-641-0197, ara@troychamber.com; or Michelle Aniol, 734-426-8303 x15, maniol@dextermi.gov.

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