Led by: Libby Seifel and Abbie Conlee of Seifel Consulting Inc.
This workshop will show you how to successfully grow your local economy through private real estate development with public-private partnerships (PPPs). PPPs provide a unique way for the government and private developers to work together to create profitable infill developments that meet community goals. In this full-day, interactive session, you'll learn about the unique objectives and contributions of the public and private sectors in a PPP. Case studies by experts in the field will offer practical techniques to better understand, structure, negotiate, and implement effective agreements with developers. You'll also learn basic analysis techniques to evaluate key financial and legal components of potential deals. The workshop will be led by Libby Seifel and Abbie Conlee of Seifel Consulting, a strategic real estate economics firm that helps clients build thriving communities of enduring value.

What does Green mean to you? To your businesses? To your leaders? To your community? To your Economic Development program? With the Green movement pushing into every part of our work and personal lives, it’s not always easy to sort through the minutia of information and focus on how to incorporate all of these things into Economic Development (ED). This workshop starts with a broad overview of different Green programs and initiatives impacting ED, as well as some model practices from around the state. You will hear from a panel of Green Entrepreneurs on the type of support they need to be successful. Then we will get down to the details of how to take these pieces and create an effective Green component to your ED program, including everything from LEED building certification to what Green businesses you could thrive in your community. We have also invited the CA Economic Strategy Panel to present their findings on growing Green business clusters.

This special networking session is to engage the next generation of economic development leaders. If you are considered part of Generation X, Y, or Z, and are looking to expand your current network of peers, as well as give input on ways CALED can meet your needs as progress in your career, we invite you to join us for this discussion. If you are new economic development and want to meet colleagues that you can lean on for your network of peers, this session is also for you.

This is another special networking session that will connect different generations of economic developers. We will have a variety of economic developers with 20+ years of experience hosting topic-specific discussions at their tables. Every 10 minutes you will be given the option to switch tables. Topics will range from salary negotiations, to how to create strategic partnerships, to how to work with elected officials. If you are a seasoned professional, this is a great way to give back to those coming up the ranks behind you. Please contact Gurbax Sahota, COO with CALED, if you wish to participate.

Join us for our Welcome Luncheon as CALED Conference Chair, Kathy Millison kicks off the conference with a line up of Keynote speakers who will share what they see as prime economic development opportunities for California, including how to attract foreign direct investment at the local level

Mark O'Connell is CEO and founder of OCO Global, the leading authority on FDI. He has worked extensively in investment attraction in Europe, Asia and North America and has cultivated in-depth networks, and knowledge of doing business in these areas. Strategy work overseas has included inward investment, market entry, M&A, distributor searches, corporate location and offshore investment evaluation.

Mark is recognized as a leading authority in the area of inward investment strategy and implementation. Join us at the Welcome Luncheon where he will share what's going on in the global market and what California's advantages are when it comes to FDI attraction!

Mark directly advises CEOs on corporate location decisions and the Boards of EDOs such as UK Trade and Investment, Invest Sweden Agency, Enterprise Ireland, Invest in Italy, Invest Hong Kong and Enterprise Florida.

OCO Global employs over 50 staff in 6 countries including US, Europe and China. OCO advises governments and regions on investment attraction strategies, as well as providing advice to leading corporations, brokers and professional service firms on location assessment. OCO Global publishes the OCO Monitor and OCO Assess FDI databases.

This is the first of several sessions on economic development finance. More details on the “Finance Track” will be released shortly.

California is known for innovation and creativity. As economic developers are looking for ways to support creative new businesses and foster entrepreneurial growth, cities are also being entrepreneurial by creating programs that enable them to help fund these ventures. Come hear from cities that have gone through the process already and learn how to set up your own venture fund and what pitfalls to look out for along the way.

More than ever incentive deals for economic development are being scrutinized in the public eye. Using incentives is a controversial move, and you want to make sure you’ve done your research and structured a deal that makes financial sense for your community. This session will cover the basics of what you need to evaluate when considering incentives.

We have set aside special time for attendees to meet with representatives from similar issues for a facilitated discussion to talk about issues and solutions, as well as to share model practices that are being implemented in your communities. You can choose from the following discussion groups:
--Urban Cities & Counties
--Rural Cities & Counties
--Economic Development Corporations

A Special Presentation by Willard M. Berry President, National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones.

Join us for a breakfast discussion on emerging issues facing economic development. The panel of experts will bring you up-to-date on State-level programs and initiatives that impact economic development, but don't always filter down to directly impact your day-to-day operations.

By popular request, we are brining in a representative from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) to share their knowledge of economic development nationally, including federal legislation and trends that could impact economic development. In addition, Wayne Schell, President, California Association for Local Economic Development will give you the scoop on State economic development trends. The session will wrap up with a lively presentation by David Singe on ED in Australia.

At the Celebrating Success Luncheon, California’s economic developers come together to recognize excellence in economic development from around the State. Unlike past years, this time we will feature 6 local awards and 6 overall awards. In addition, we hope to be joined by Lt. Governor John Garamendi with a special address for conference attendees.

This is the second of several sessions on economic development finance. More details on the “Finance Track” will be released shortly.

Do you want to grow the next big-name technology sector, company or industry in your community? If so, you need a framework and program in place to help foster that growth. Our panel will present different ways to help seed and facilitate growth of technology sectors and entrepreneurs in your community. As part of this session, a representative from the University of California will present a special item explaining more about their technology transfer program.

This is another session brought back by popular demand. Can an economic development program be evaluated? Do policy makers perceive too much political risk and/or cost in economic development evaluations? This session will demonstrate some techniques for how to measure economic development performance and ways to share it with the right people: policy makers, your colleagues, and the community you serve.

Get immediate feedback! Bring your project ideas for a lively, interactive version of an Economic Development Funding Fair. Representatives from a wide variety of funding agencies will be strategically placed around the room. Participants will have three minutes to pitch their project or ask their questions. Resource agencies will have three minutes to respond. The bell will ring, and the participants will move on to the next table. Make sure your 'Speeding Ticket' is stamped to qualify for special prize! Agencies will include: CEDA; Federal (SBA and SBA lenders, EDA; USDA Rural Development) State (ETP; CDBG; I-Bank; CA Department of Conservation; CA Integrated Waste Management Board;) Business bankers; non; traditional lenders; and more...

From the beaches of San Diego, to the hustle and bustle of cities like San Francisco, to the beautiful mountains in Upstate California, our state is known for it’s tourist attractions. While tourism as an economic development driver is not a new idea, there are new ways communities across the State are tapping into this market. This session will highlight some of those ideas.

California Tools for Business Success is a centralized webfeed of current information that flows through your website. Over 250 pages of resources are continually updated to give your community's entrepreneurs the best information possible, whether they are just starting up or have been operating for decades. You can take proactive steps to help your businesses through hard times. Because this information appears on web pages identical to your own homepage, it appears that you have gathered and are maintaining the material.

The bottom line: For a small setup fee and a monthly subscription (the equivalent of only $95 for CALED members), every city, county, chamber, and EDC) can provide up-to-date business information to its entrepreneurs without taking the staff time to research and stay on top of changes.

Come meet some of California’s unique green entrepreneurs at Green Zone Expo! Ever wonder what green businesses can do and what they need to settle and grow in your community? Come talk to this group of revolutionary entrepreneurs that represent a growing part of California’s businesses.

Relax, network, and win cool prizes at this fun celebration in the Green Zone Expo and the CALED exhibit hall. The current, reigning Mrs. California will be on hand with CALED representatives to host this exciting event. Whether you’re enjoying an organic beverage in the Green Zone Expo or a glass of wine in the exhibit area, you are sure to end your day on a high note by attending this reception.

This is the fourth and final session on economic development finance. More details on the “Finance Track” will be released shortly.

This is an interactive workshop that will help you identify workplace and self-generated time wasters. You will learn techniques to better manage your time and to prioritize your tasks effectively. We will also discuss methods on how to become more organized and stress-free. Participants will enjoy discussion and group work during this workshop.

The Public Policy Institute of California is currently conducting a comprehensive study of local economic development programs used by California cities. Max Nieman, Associate Director, PPIC will present preliminary findings of the study and lead into a facilitated discussion on what’s working at the local level.