After much contemplation and consideration, the OEDA leadership has made the decision to proceed with the 2020 OEDA Annual Summit in a virtual format.  The Virtual Annual Summit will be presented over the original in-person dates – September 29-October 1.  We will all certainly miss seeing our Ohio colleagues in person, but the OEDA leadership feels that safety must be the first priority.

We are pleased to announce that, through the generous support of JobsOhio, local economic developers are able to attend the 2020 Annual Summit at no charge!  Look for information in our registration materials to be released soon regarding which positions qualify for this complimentary registration.  There has never been a more critical time to stay connected and stay current. Economic developers are on the frontlines of Ohio’s economic recovery efforts and working tirelessly to keep up with the ever-changing landscape.  We are thankful for JobsOhio’s support of Ohio’s economic development community and their partnership with OEDA as the presenting sponsor of this year’s Annual Summit.

Thursday, October 1^st

12:00-1:00 pm EDT         Small Town Ohio’s Comeback

Presenter:  Jason Duff, Founder and CEO, Small Nation

In 7 years, downtown Bellefontaine, OH has experienced a resurgence. Small Nation has purchased 30+ historic buildings, renovated 24 upper-floor loft apartments, developed 7 new restaurants and 17 new specialty retail stores, and created 121 new jobs. Our “Hustle Hard” approach is revitalizing our downtown, solving our community’s workforce problems, and bringing entrepreneurs to our town. Today we show others how to “Hustle Hard” to help their small towns and small businesses. We work with municipalities, small town entrepreneurs and smart, caring investors who aren’t afraid to break a few “rules” of the development game.