Overview

2025 Economic Development Conference for the EDA Denver Region

April 15-17, 2025 (Tuesday to Thursday)

The EDA Denver Region covers a 10-state footprint
(CO, IA, KS, MO, MT, ND, NE, SD, UT, and WY).

The conference will offer plenary and concurrent sessions, four mobile workshops, and plenty of opportunities to network with peers from across the EDA Denver Region.  Topics will cover housing and economic development, business attraction and retention, RLF program management, CEDS, public private partnerships, energy communities and economic diversification, demystifying match requirements, OMB guidelines, AI and economic development, local and regional food systems, and much more. 

Four mobile workshops will bring attendees out of the hotel to learn about innovative, impactful, and interesting initiatives that impact economies at all levels.  These workshops will take small groups to: 

  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): Established in 1977, NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s only national research lab solely dedicated to securing America’s energy future through renewable energy and energy efficiency.  Through cutting-edge facilities and world-class research staff, NREL helps power the future through energy innovations which have created jobs, boosted economic growth, and strengthened energy security. NREL also provides technical assistance to communities of all sizes to help solve energy challenges and implement innovative solutions.
  • Mi Casa Resource Center: With over 48 years of dedicated service, Mi Casa Resource Centeris committed to advancing the economic prosperity of the Latino community across the Denver region. Mi Casa strives to educate, train, and support youth and adults toward economic success, while fostering positive community change.  Mi Casa is serving as a regional lead in implementing the $11.4 million Good Jobs Challenge project awarded by EDA in 2022 to support workforce solutions for the business community and vulnerable jobseekers in Denver. 
  • MSU Denver Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute: Welcome to the 4th Industrial Revolution!  It is a new day for manufacturing in Colorado and across the nation, as digital technology (such as AI) is transforming manufacturing by making it leaner and smarter – and jump-starting an industrial revival.  Metropolitan State University of Denver’s University Center and Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute are at the forefront of this revolution through skills training, research, and technical assistance. 
  • Colorado State University Spur Campus: The Colorado State University (CSU) Spur Campusat Denver’s National Western Center celebrates the proud tradition of Colorado agriculture, while ‘spurring’ innovative and global impact through community-centric, experiential, and lifelong learning opportunities. Research and programming at Spur promote agricultural literacy, foster agribusiness entrepreneurship, advance sustainability of rural and urban food systems, and enhance the health and well-being of communities.  

Please note that an additional fee of $40 is required for each mobile workshop and you must pre-register. 

A more complete conference agenda will be available very soon. Bookmark this page and visit often!

Registration

Contact NADO Operations Specialist Kar’ron Grant ([email protected]) with registration questions.
Registration Type Registration Rate
Early Bird (By March 28)
$360
Regular (After March 28)
$400
Mobile Workshop Add-On
$40 per workshop

Accommodations

Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center
650 15th Street
Denver, CO 80202
Experience the buzz of downtown from Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. Located one block from the 16th Street Mall and walking distance to Denver Center for the Performing Arts, this hotel offers a stylish stay in downtown Denver with access to Peaks 27th-Fl. Lounge, the highest-rising lounge in the city with spectacular Rocky Mountain views.
 
Room rate: $249 +tax
Still Need a Hotel Reservation?

Although the cutoff date has passed, we still have a number of rooms available at the conference hotel at the group rate. If you still need a reservation, please contact Brittany Salazar at [email protected].

To request a room, please include the following details in your email:

  • Full Name
  • Email Address
  • Check-in and Check-out Dates

Availability is limited, contact Brittany about room reservations as soon as possible.

 
Click here for hotel parking information.

Airport & Transportation

Denver International Airport (DEN) – 27 miles from hotel

Union Station – 1 mile from hotel

Getting around:

Light Rail Service / RTD – Stops at most corners in the city, including Empower Field at Mile High, Ball Arena (formerly Pepsi Center) and Elitch Gardens.

Union Station – Lower Downtown (LODO) / Coors Field 16th Street Mall. Cost is $2.60–$5 each

Denver Airport Rail – Travelers can use A Line, the rail service from Denver International Airport to Union Station in LODO (lower downtown) and back, courtesy of Regional Transportation District (RTD). The Denver Airport Rail has six stops along the way and takes approximately 37 minutes at a cost of $10.50 each way.

16th Street Mall Ride – Take advantage of the complimentary 16th Street Mall Ride, accessible just one block from Hyatt Regency Denver, for service throughout the central business and entertainment districts of downtown.

Agenda

Click here for a PDF copy of the draft agenda.

Please note: Sessions from this conference qualify for AICP Certificate Maintenance (CM) credits. Follow this link to log credits.

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What to Know Before You Go

See who is attending this year’s conference here (PDF).
Conference Hotel Information

Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center
650 15th Street, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 436-1234
Check-in: 4:00 PM | Check-out: 11:00 AM

For hotel reservation assistance, contact Brittany Salazar at [email protected].

Parking:

  • Self-Parking: $25-$67 (0 hours-overnight)
  • Valet Parking: $17-$55 (0 hours-overnight)

Hotel Cancellation Policy:

Reservation cancellations must occur at least 72 hours prior to check-in (4:00 PM, MST) on the scheduled day of arrival to avoid a cancellation fee (one night’s room rate and tax).

FedEx Business Center (lobby level):

  • Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Dining at the Hotel

  • Former Saint Craft Kitchen and Taps (Hotel Restaurant, Hours & More)
  • Peaks 27th Floor Lounge (Indoor Rooftop Lounge, Open Daily 4-11pm)
  • Assembly Hall Bar + Market (Marketplace Restaurant/Social Lounge, Open Daily 5:30 AM – 12:00 AM)
  • In-Room Delivery: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Transportation Information

Getting to the Hotel:

  • Denver International Airport (DEN) (27 miles from hotel)
  • Union Station (1 mile from hotel)

Getting Around:

  • Light Rail Service / RTD: Stops at most corners in the city, including Empower Field at Mile High, Ball Arena (formerly Pepsi Center), and Elitch Gardens. Learn more here.
  • Union Station:A multi-modal transit hub in the heart of the Mile High City, Union Station is home to both Amtrak rail and RTD bus and rail services, connecting you to the greater Denver area and beyond. Learn more here.
  • Denver Airport Rail: Travelers can use A Line, the rail service from Denver International Airport to Union Station in LODO (lower downtown) and back, courtesy of Regional Transportation District (RTD). Learn more here.
  • 16th Street Mall Ride: Take advantage of the complimentary 16th Street Mall Ride, accessible just one block from Hyatt Regency Denver, for service throughout the central business and entertainment districts of downtown. Learn more here.
During the Conference

Registration Desk – (Capitol North Foyer, 4th floor)

  • Tuesday, April 15: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday, April 16: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday, April 17: 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Registration questions? Email Kar’ron Grant at [email protected].

Conference Meals & Breaks 

  • Tuesday, April 15: Morning Coffee, Plated Luncheon, & Evening Reception
  • Wednesday, April 16: Morning Coffee, Breakfast Buffet, & Afternoon Ice Cream Social​
  • Thursday, April 17: Morning Coffee, Breakfast Buffet

Wi-Fi in Meeting Rooms: Connect to the NADO Conference network and use passkey: EDAdenver

Dress Code: Business professional attire

Social Media: Follow and tag us on LinkedIn and Facebook using #NADOEDADenver25

Code of Conduct Policy:

All participants are expected to maintain professionalism. Discrimination, harassment, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. View NADO’s Code of Conduct Policy here.

Exploring Denver, CO

For more details, explore Hyatt Events and Attractions here.

Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST)

Weather: 

Presentations

Presentations are linked as PowerPoints or PDFs in either the session title or presenter’s name below.

Please note: Sessions from this conference qualify for AICP Certificate Maintenance (CM) credits. Follow this link to log credits.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Opening Plenary

Building Livable Communities: The Power of Place, People, & Relationships

  • Clark Anderson, Executive Director, Community Builders
  • Laura Lewis Marchino, Executive Director, Region 9 Economic Development District

10:15 – 11:45 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

Best Practices in Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Management 

  • Antonia Stinnett, Program Manager, Grow America
  • Mary Louk, Director of Credit, Grow America

Attracting and Retaining Business and Talent in Rural Communities

Rural Economic Development and Housing         

Conversation Café: AI and Economic Development
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Plenary Lunch
Collaborations & Capacity Across the EDA Spectrum

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Mobile Workshop
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 

1:15 – 2:45 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

A Closer Look at the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

  • Stefan Herron, Strategy & Policy Analyst – Strategy & Performance Division, Missouri Department of Economic Development
  • Karol Patterson, Economic Development Specialist, Mountainland Association of Governments
  • Brett Schwartz, Associate Director, NADO

EDA Defederalized Funds 101 

  • Antonia Stinnett, Program Manager, Grow America
  • Mary Louk, Director of Credit, Grow America
  • Brendan Cosgrove, Co-founder & Director, Catalyze

Building Tech Economies in Rural America: Strategies for Success 

  • Trish Thibodo, Head of Federal Grants Support, Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)

Conversation Café: Building and Managing a Successful EDD 

 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Building Connections between EDDs and State Economic Development Agencies  

  • Erik Pages, President, EntreWorks Consulting
  • Matt Godinez, Assistant Secretary, Kansas Department of Commerce

Building Healthy Economies through Local and Regional Food Systems 

  • Dawn Thilmany, CSU Dept of Ag and Resource Economics, Local Food Economics Community of Practice, USDA Regional Food Business Centers
  • Brian Coppom, Colorado Dept of Agriculture
  • Libby Christensen, CO Food Systems and Food Business Center lead
  • Michael Gabel, CSU SPUR Food Innovation Center

 Conversation Café: De-mystifying Match Requirements

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

8:30 – 9:15 a.m.
Morning Plenary
Welcome to the Future! The Digital Technology Impact on Economic and Workforce Development

9:30-11:30 a.m. 
Mobile Workshops
Mi Casa Resource Center
MSU Denver Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute

9:45 – 11:00 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions

OMB’s “Uniform Guidance”: What Program Managers Need to Know

Powering Resilient Economies in Energy Communities

Engage, Explore, Execute: Interactive Wealth Creation Strategies for EDDs

  • Melissa Levy, Principal and Owner, Community Roots

11:10 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Buying Goods and Services with Federal Grant Funds

Conversation Cafe: Building Partnerships across EDDs & Tribal Nations 

  • Laura Lewis Marchino, Executive Director, Region 9 Economic Development
  • Dion Thompson-Davoli, Program Manager, NADO

A Trail Map for Growth: Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Economies 

1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Mobile Workshop 
Colorado State University Spur Campus
Read a blog post recapping this mobile workshop here.

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Rethinking Indirect Cost Recovery 

Philanthropy and EDA Stakeholders: Breaking Barriers and Building Relationships 

  • Kelly Dunkin, President &CEO, Colorado Gives Foundation
  • Claire Bouchard, Engagement Consultant, Northern Colorado Foundation
  • Elicia Ratajczyk, Research Scientist and Network Facilitator, Institute for the Buillt environment, Colorado State University
  • Moderator: Joe D’Antonio, Program Manager, NADO

Vision to Action: Strategic Planning Strategies for Your Organization 

  • Brian Kelsey, Manager, Economic Development Advisory Services, Ernst & Young LLP

3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Plenary Session
Federal Legislative Update: Perspectives from the National and Regional Levels

  • Joe McKinney, Executive Director, NADO
  • Rick Hunsaker, Executive Director, Region XII COG, and President, NADO

Thursday, April 17, 2025

8:45 – 10:00 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Attracting, Retaining, & Nurturing EDD Staff 

  • Geri Gamber, Executive Director, South Eastern Regional Development Agency
  • Rachelle Howe, Executive Director, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission
  • Lynne Keller Forbes, Executive Director, South Eastern Council of Governments
  • Moderator: Brett Schwartz, Associate Director, NADO

Technology-driven Solutions for Resilience & Economic Development

University Partnerships to Promote Collaborative Economic Development 

10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions

The Geographic Approach to Regional Economic Development 

All Safety is Local: Connections between Economic Development and Safe Mobility in Rural Communities

 Meeting the Childcare Challenge 

  • Maya Gould, Vice President of Research, Colorado Children’s Campaign
  • Sharon Hueftle, Executive Director, South Central Economic Development District
  • Wylie Philips, Director, Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Closing Plenary: The State of the Region: A Snapshot of Economic Development Trends and Actions

NADO’s Code of Conduct/Anti-harassment Policy (PDF)

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