9:30 AM

10:00 AM

11:30 AM

12:00 PM

12:30 PM

12:50 PM

Fireside Chat with the new IEDA Executive Director
Erin Schneider, IEDA Board Chair & Alan Tió, MPA, CEcD, MEDP

1:40 PM

Networking Break

2:00 PM

Innovative Workforce Solutions: Turning Data into Action
This session will share the perspective of three individuals working to turn data points and programs into action! Talent has become a (THE?) focal point of economic development conversations. Whether you’re supporting existing businesses to meet current and emerging workforce needs or introducing your community to a prospect, the skills of your people, ability to attract new talent, and the quality of your education and training resources impact your success.
Kate Lee, South Bend Regional Chamber
Mike Thibideau, Invest Hamilton County

3:00 PM

Networking Break

3:15 PM

Anchor Institutions and the Partnerships Required to Drive Economic Growth in Your Community
Anchor institutions look a little different in every community. However, each plays a critical role in driving economic growth in communities. In this session, panelists will share some examples from across Indiana of some of the work being driven by those institutions, share some insight on why those institutions invest heavily in the communities they call home, talk about what communities can do to help facilitate those investments, and share advice on how to get those that aren’t to engage.
Jeff Rea, President & CEO, South Bend Regional Chamber [Moderator]
Dan Peterson, Cook Group Incorporated
Scott Ford, University of Notre Dame
Caleb Bauer, Department of Community Investment, City of South Bend

4:20 PM

Affecting Quality of Life through READI
Between READI 1, READI 2, and new initiatives around Redevelopment and Arts & Culture, the IEDC is investing over one billion dollars into Quality of Life, Quality of Place, and Quality of Opportunity initiatives across the state. In this session, the IEDC’s READI team will discuss its key performance indicators from both rounds, highlight projects and key findings, outline some best practices, and dig into how these investments will affect different regions around the state.
Jim Rawlinson, IEDC
Heidi Young, IEDC
Nassif Kouton, IEDC

5:20 PM

Reception

9:00 PM

After Hours with IEDA

7:30 AM

Breakfast

8:30 AM

Welcome

8:45 AM

Exploring Regionalism: A Dialogue Between Academic, Economic Development and Community Leaders
This session is designed to be informative and engaging, fostering a deeper understanding of regionalism and its potential to benefit our communities.
Pete McCown, Community Foundation of Elkhart County, Member, Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority
Tim Sexton, University of Notre Dame, Member, Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority
Moderator: Bethany Hartley, South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership

9:45 AM

Networking Break

10:00 AM

Catching the Big Fish
How to prepare your community for that next big win. Gain some insight from the experts who’ve helped their communities and Indiana secure some of the biggest wins in its history. Panelists will share stories of efforts to make sites shovel-ready and how to pay for that, insight into putting the infrastructure and incentive packages in place, advice on “potholes” to avoid along the way, and the lessons learned to help communities differentiate themselves from their competition.
Katie Eaton, NIPSCO [Moderator] 
J. Brock Herr, Indiana Economic Development Corporation 
Wendy Dant Chesser, River Ridge Development Authority
Jeff Rea, South Bend Regional Chamber

11:05 AM

12:05 PM

End of Conference