Area Development Consultants Forum for Economic Development Professionals

Area Development Conference and Forum Series

The Area Development Conference and Forum Series offers authoritative events that combine networking and educational presentation designed to address the key issues effecting economic development professionals in today's market and offer insight into the future of our industry. The Area Development Conference and Forum Series brings the best presenters in corporate real estate site consulting and other relevant disciplines to one forum where economic development professionals have access to these influential decision makers.

Upcoming Consultants Forum Events

		Women in Economic Development Forum¹⁰ Sofitel Magnificent Mile Chicago, Illinois October 6-8, 2019 Register Sponsor

		Canadian FDI Forum⁴ JW Marriott Ice District Edmonton, Alberta Oct 22-24 2019 Register Sponsor

		Consultants Forum²⁸ The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston Houston, Texas December 8-10, 2019 Register Sponsor

		OutFront Workshop Forum² The Westin Book Cadillac Hotel Detroit, Michigan March 30-April 1, 2020 Details Coming Soon

		Consultants Forum²⁹ The Jefferson Hotel Richmond, Virginia June 2-4, 2020 Details Coming Soon

Attendee Feedback

Area economic developers up their courtship with site selectors

Consultants Forum Charlotte - June 2019

The Consultants Forum was an excellent way to hear from industry experts and consultants. The networking times and roundtables were valuable to ask questions and create connections. The value of connecting with some of the leading consultants in the country is very beneficial.
JobsOhio

Excellent forum, the variety of speakers with diverse backgrounds and experiences made the conference information so practical and helpful. Your team always does a stellar job.
ElectriCities of North Carolina (sponsor)

Great Forum as always. Made a few brand-new contacts, reconnected with old contacts, and generated a new project out of it. Thanks guys!
Denton Economic Development Partnership, Texas

The number of attendees makes the Forum size just right to allow meaningful conversations with site consultants without having to wait in a long line.
Regional Growth Partnership, Ohio

The Forum was outstanding. Speakers were outstanding. Glad our Secretary of Commerce could be present - thanks so much.
Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation, Indiana (sponsor)

Overall, a very good experience. The consultants were present and accessible for a very good amount of time, allowing for great networking.
Invest Buffalo Niagara, New York

Great experience. The quality of speakers and presentations was excellent. The presentations were much more professional than I have seen at similar events run by other organizations. Very well done.
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, South Carolina

Workshop Forum - Richmond, March 2019

I adored this workshop. The small group environment allowed us to ask questions and get feedback. Other communities shared with each other and collaborated to give examples and find solutions. I was grateful to attend. I only regret not being able to attend every session.
Tulsa Regional Chamber, Oklahoma

The Consultants Workshop experience was outstanding. Each breakout session was on point with experienced, seasoned leaders. The down time was great as it gave us time to get to know each other personally. Thank you for your outstanding forum.
Southwest Florida Economic Development Alliance

One of my favorite Area Development programs.
Henrico County Virginia Economic Development Authority, Virginia (sponsor)

The small workshops sessions provided great information and opportunities to ask direct questions to the site consultants and other experts. Enjoyed the networking opportunities/events. Well organized. Great venue.
Jefferson County Development Authority, West Virginia

I thought the size of the conference was perfect. It was big enough to get really great information but small enough to make actual connections with each other.
Albuquerque Economic Development, Inc., New Mexico

Excellent workshop as always. Excellent, relevant, and useful content. No-nonsense nor irrelevant fluff.
Development Authority of Jefferson County, Georgia

Consultants Forum Miami - December 2018

As I have told my team when I returned, this was one of the best events I have attended in years. New relationships. Strong content. No egos.
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Maryland

Thanks for being such gracious hosts the past three days. I enjoyed every aspect of the Consultants Forum; the content, the people and the venue.
Dan Foster - Senior Managing Director, Newmark Knight Frank (speaker)

It was a thoughtfully curated program on relevant and diverse economic development topics that suited a variety of experience levels. I always enjoy this Forum.
Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance, Indiana

The structure of this forum allows for intimate conversations among site consultants and economic development professionals. The number of attendees is perfect for great interaction and for forming long-term relationships.
Regional Growth Partnership, Ohio

The speakers were excellent and many of them I had never heard before. I appreciated the opportunity to network with consultants and colleagues.
Manatee County Government, Florida

I was very impressed with all the speakers and found the presentations to be very current, relevant and interesting. I was equally impressed with the number and quality of the attendees. I spent time with many economic developers and consultants that I have established relationships with. The environment fostered the strengthening of existing relationships and the building of new relationships.
Julie Dow - Director, Economic Development, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (speaker)

This conference is an excellent way to share your communities' story to consultants one-on-one. Great networking.
Central Florida Development Council

Very positive. Found the forum one of the most useful conferences I've been to.
Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Canadian FDI Forum - Ottawa, October 2018

Overall experience was excellent. Presentations were relevant with great speakers and content. Lots of opportunities to network with site selection consultants and Canadian economic developers.
Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development

Liked the overall program and felt we had good opportunities for direct one on one time with site selectors.
City of Woodstock, Ontario (Sponsor)

Since it was my very first forum, I would say it was quite a success! The subjects of the conferences were spot on and very relevant according to what we must do as EDOs. I really enjoyed meeting other people working in the field from different region and exchanging about our practices.
Quebec International

My first attendance to the Forum. Very well organized and run. The speakers delivered a good combination of insights and trends with how the specific of how it impacts Canada and how Canada is seen globally or on a North American scale.
Opportunities New Brunswick

Women in Economic Development - Chicago, September 2018

This Forum provided insight into many areas of the changing landscape in business attraction and workforce needs. I truly enjoyed every speaker.
Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast

This Forum was invigorating and well put together. I really enjoyed the roundtable discussions and panelists. Looking forward to next year.
Port Corpus Christi Authority, Texas

I thoroughly enjoyed my first-time experience at the Consultants Forum. It was my first all-women's event and it was so empowering, inspiring, and insightful. It was a very organized and well-thought-through event. The attention to detail was very much appreciated. The speakers, hotel, food, were all aspects that made it a wonderful experience for me.
Community Development Foundation, Mississippi

I had a great experience at the forum. As a corporate attendee, it was great for me to meet lots of economic developers and hear what their needs are, as well as to hear the different consultants' perspectives. The forum was well-paced and not too busy.
Site Selection Group, Dallas, Texas

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