All Conference sessions will be located at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, 1201 N. West Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104, unless otherwise noted.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11
Registration
11 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Comments
1 p.m.
Planning District Roundtable
1:15 p.m. -2:45 p.m
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You all know about the planning districts, but do you really know what they do? This session will highlight the services available as they pertain to economic development. By the end of this session, you'll know only know what the services are, you'll know how to apply those services to make your economic development efforts even more successful.
Speakers: All planning district directors
Networking Break
2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Using GIS to Enhance Economic Development
3:15 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Economic developers need effective decision-making tools that help them conduct analysis, display and disseminate results and make informed decisions about where to locate new businesses or grow existing ones. Many communities and counties have an abundance of geographic data for analysis, and governments often make GIS datasets publicly available. This session will help you learn the best way to use GIS.
Speakers: Greg Henderson, Todd Kayes, Harry Redman
Creating Momentum
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Being involved in economic development can be challenging. This session will help you learn how to educate new elected officials/stakeholders, understand local stakeholders views and needs and create a stable economic development organization. You'll definitely leave this session with tips you can take home and put to use.
Panel: Joe Fiala, Pat Kurtenbach, Duane Sutton
Networking Reception
5 p.m. at the Sheraton
THURSDAY, APRIL 12
Registration
7:30 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Comments
8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Keynote
8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
After an IED explosion in Afghanistan left him severely burned on more than 80 percent of his body, Sgt. Israel Del Toro thought big. Despite a grim prognosis and three months in a coma, Del Toro defied the odds, made a miraculous recovery and became the first combat disabled Air Force technician to re-enlist. As part of his rehabilitation, he was introduced to adaptive sports and eventually set world records in shot put, discus, and javelin, and won a gold medal at The 2016 Invictus Games. For his perseverance and commitment to his country, Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro received The Pat Tillman Award for Service, and has proven again and again what one can achieve with steadfast tenacity and determination.
Networking Break
9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
How the GOED is Thinking Big!
10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Hear from commissioner Stern and each of the GOED's division directors on how the office is working to overcome challenges of the past and think big on projects of the future.
Lunch
11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
12:45 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
1:25 p.m. - 1:55 p.m.
2:05 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.
Don't Zone Yourself Out
Looking to add a cheese plant, chicken processing facility or wind farm to your community? In order to land the next big project, proper permitting and zoning is a must. When these projects surface on the local level, it is essential for economic developers to garner support from board members, commissioners, landowners and citizens. In this session, learn what steps you can take as an economic developer to get your community on board!
Competitor or Comrade?
When looking for a new location in a rural area, companies often consider not only what a community has to offer, but what the surrounding region brings to the table. As economic developers, working on a regional level is essential to our own community's growth. But when are these other organizations the competition and when are they our partners? What are the challenges that practitioners face regionally, and how can communities in the same geographic area work together to better to accomplish common goals?
How to Foster Entrepreneurship in Your Community
Entrepreneurs make up an important segment of our economic development efforts. However, their needs can vary from a well-established company. In this session, learn what the unique needs of entrepreneurs are, what resources are available to them, and how we can help them grow in our own communities.
Industrial Park Planning
While industrial parks are a big asset to a community, they aren't always utilized to their full potential. In this session, learn practical steps to help you make the best use of your space. See how communities have been strategic in their planning development and what steps your community can take to help your industrial park become a bigger draw for new and expanding companies.
Networking Break and Giant Vision Exhibit Viewing
2:40-3:10 p.m.
Quiz and Prize Session
3:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The Capacity Readiness Scorecard: Actionable, Practical Tips for Moving South Dakota Forward
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
In this customized session, Janet Ady of Ady Advantage shares useful and practical advice for implementing and improving your community's economic development efforts. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate beforehand in the Capacity Readiness Scorecard Survey and will receive a confidential, personalized report that catalogues major organizational and regional asset indicators, as well as identifying areas for improvement.
Reception
5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Banquet and Awards
6 p.m.
