KC, Oklahoma, Nashville experts headline development conference
St. Louis Business Journal
May 20, 2011
By Diana Barr
Economic development officials in the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County are hoping to attract 375 business, civic and development leaders to what they say is a first step in boosting regionwide cooperation.
A first-of-its-kind, half-day conference June 14 entitled "Best Practices: Regional Economic Development" will feature a panel of development experts: Robert Marcusse, president and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council; Robin Roberts Krieger, executive vice president of economic development, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber; and Janet Miller, director of marketing and economic development, Nashville Chamber of Commerce.
The conference will be moderated by Denny Coleman, president and CEO of the St. Louis County Economic Council, and Rodney Crim, executive director of St. Louis Development Corp.
A recent study on local intergovernmental cooperation done by Philadelphia-based Public Financial Management for the Missouri Council for a Better Economy highlighted the need for regional cooperation in several areas, including economic development.
"The study points out that regionally, we are falling behind competing areas," Coleman said. "So we're looking at best practices from other areas: what has worked for them, how they're structured and how they collaborate."
"This is a first step in a process to cooperate, collaborate and look for opportunities to consolidate economic development in the region," Crim said. "What we get from this will help formulate our next steps in that process."
To register for the event, which will be held at the Missouri Botanical Garden, go to www.slcec.com/edconf.html.
