Virginia Conference on Economic Gardening - October 24-25, 2011

Virginia Conference on Economic Gardening - October 24-25, 2011

An Entrepreneurial Approach to Economic Development

Since its beginnings in Littleton, Colorado, in 1989, Economic Gardening has been gaining a lot of momentum in economic development circles. By the late 1990s, a number of communities (including Lake Elsinore, San Bernardino, Chico, and San Luis Obispo in California; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; Steamboat Springs, Colorado; the state of Wyoming; and the North Down Borough of Northern Ireland) were beginning to investigate and experiment with economic gardening. In 2009, the state of Florida allocated $10,000,000 to develop a statewide Economic Gardening program. In 2011, the state of Michigan also chose to adopt a statewide program. States like Kansas, Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina have either formal entrepreneurial policies or pilot projects underway as a part of their economic development efforts. Major states like California regularly include "economic gardening" as an agenda subject in their state economic development conferences.

Economic Gardening deals with growth-oriented companies and strategic issues like penetrating new markets, refining business models, developing teams and embracing new leadership roles. The actual program, however, has much more depth and complexity than many realize. VBIA encourages you to join us in a discussion of the application of Economic Gardening - an entrepreneurial approach to economic development.

The Virginia Conference on Economic Gardening is being held at the Hotel Roanoke on October 24-25, 2011. Book now to take advantage of our special room rate before it expires on September 24.

Dress is business casual.

Register at: http://www.vbia.org/2011_conference