2023 "An Afternoon with the Districts" Presentation Materials

The NADO Research Foundation hosted “An Afternoon with the Districts” on March 15, 2023 as part of the Economic Development District Community of Practice.   This event brought together nearly 70 participants representing EDDs, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, EDA community of practice partners, and other national organizations for an afternoon of networking, training, and conversations that explored how best to position EDDs for success in achieving regional economic development and resilience.  

The full agenda is available here and presentation materials are linked below (PDF).  To learn more about the EDD CoP and how to get involved, click here.  Thanks to everyone who participated this year and we look forward to seeing you at future events!    

  • Welcome and Introductions
    Brett Schwartz, Associate Director, NADO Research Foundation

  • Building Communities and Capacity: An Update from EDA
    Brittany Sickler, Networks Program Manager, Office of Regional Affairs, U.S. EDA
    Tori Brown, Communities of Practice Coordinator, U.S. EDA
    Bernadette Grafton, RNTA Coordinator, U.S. EDA

  • Keynote: Latest Trends and Opportunities in Regional Economic Development
    Brian Kelsey, Manager, Economic Development Advisory Services, Ernst & Young LLP

  • Lightning Round Partner Presentations
    Grace Blanchard, Program Manager – Resilient Economies and Communities, National Association of Counties (Coal transition communities)
    Matt Bogoshian, Executive Director, American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (Manufacturing)
    Bob Isaacson, Senior Vice President for Economic Research and Policy, Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (State-EDD partnerships)
    Sarah Kackar, Director, Rural Initiative, NeighborWorks America (Rural Housing)
    Mary Louk, Program Manager, National Development Council & Patrick Davis, Senior Vice President, Strategy, CRF USA (Revolving Loan Funds)
    Jason Rittenberg, Vice President, SSTI (Technology-Based Economic Development)
    Betsey Suchanic, Inclusive Economic Development Advisor, New Growth Innovation Network (Equity and Economic Inclusion)

The EDD CoP is made possible through an award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (ED22HDQ3070106).  The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the participants, trainers, and authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

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2023 Impact Awards

The primary applicant must be a NADO member. Project partners, both NADO and non-members, can be recognized under "Project Partners" below.

Primary Project Contact:
This person will be the designated point of contact for all future awards-related correspondence and will receive the printed award certificates and other hardcopy materials should the project win an award.

Organization Address

Project Location (if different from Organization Address)

Executive Director

Additional Organizational Information
Please upload your organization's logo which will be included on the winning project award certificate.

Project Information
This title will be printed on the award certificate for winning projects and in all 2022 NADO Impact Award materials and cannot be changed.

Project Summary & Questions
Please craft clear, thoughtful, and engaging responses to the following questions. Use the following sections to tell us how your project has made an impact, such as its use of creative funding mechanisms, efforts to create efficiencies or reduce costs, unique partnership models, and emphasis on building resilience and/or enhancing your region's quality of life.

For award-winning projects, the information provided below may be used verbatim to inform project descriptions that will be published in the 2023 NADO Impact Awards materials and included on the NADO website.

Please submit at least one photo showing your project in action. Please keep file size to a minimum (<2Mb) and use JPEG format. If uploading multiple files, ZIP files prior to submitting. If you have trouble uploading images they can be directly emailed to Brett Schwartz at [email protected] Include the project title they correspond to in the subject line of your email.

Note: Submitted photos may be used in NADO Impact Awards materials and in other NADO published materials with credit to your organization. Please also consider submitting photos for NADO's 2023 Photo Contest, which will be held this summer.


CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION - PLEASE BE PATIENT! IF YOU DO NOT SEE A CONFIRMATION, YOUR APPLICATION WAS NOT RECEIVED.
Your application is not submitted until you are directed to a confirmation page. If you have any questions or are unsure if your application has been submitted, please contact Brett Schwartz at [email protected]

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New Speaker Inquiry

Job Listing Inquiry

Joe McKinney serves as Executive Director of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). Headquartered in Washington DC, NADO provides advocacy, education, research, and training for the nation’s 500+ regional planning and development organizations.

Joe has thirty-one years of experience having served in city, county, regional, national association, and government management since 1991. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a candidate for a master’s degree in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

McKinney has provided congressional testimony on numerous occasions regarding the importance of regional development organizations in helping shape the nation’s economic growth. He is nationally recognized for promoting innovative solutions in areas such as planning and economic development, workforce development, transportation and transit, and aging services.

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