Ohio Economic Development Association upcoming events

Beyond Shovel Ready: How to Know if a Site is Truly Ready for Development (10 Aug 2026)

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Beyond Shovel Ready:

How to Know if a Site is Truly Ready for Development

Monday, August 10, 2026

1:30 - 2:30 PM

Too many sites look “shovel-ready” until a project is underway and the real constraints emerge. This webinar, sponsored by OEDA with Terracon, a leading engineering firm, walks through a practical, step-by-step approach to determining whether a site is truly developable.

The Webinar will start with a desktop review that uses publicly available data to identify physical, environmental, infrastructure, and regulatory limitations early, and translate them into real costs, timelines, and opportunities. Participants will learn how to use tools such as flood maps, GIS data, soil surveys, and environmental databases to conduct smarter upfront due diligence, ask better questions of engineers and developers, and confidently position sites for successful redevelopment rather than costly surprises.

OEDA Professional Development programs are made possible through the generous support of:

Applied Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp for Economic Development (13 Aug 2026)

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:45:00 GMT

The Applied Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp for Economic Development

Intermediate | Two days. Four working sessions. Everything you build is yours.

August 13–14, 2026

Ohio University – Dublin Integrated Education Center

6805 Bobcat Way | Dublin, Ohio 43016

$499 per person. 40 seats.

Artificial intelligence is already changing how economic development organizations conduct research, prepare proposals, communicate with stakeholders, analyze data, and make decisions. The question is no longer whether to use AI. It is how to use it better than everyone else.

Join us for two intensive days alongside some of the leading practitioners applying AI in economic development today. This is not a conference, and it is not an introduction to artificial intelligence. It is a working session for professionals who already know the basics and are ready to build practical skills that immediately improve their effectiveness.

You will not spend the day watching demonstrations. You will spend it solving real problems, with instructors and floor coaches working alongside you as you build prompts, test approaches, refine results, and learn from your peers.

You will leave with things you can use: work products from four applied sessions, and a repeatable method built around one of your own recurring responsibilities. Whether it is business retention, site selection, marketing, grant writing, research, strategic planning, or another critical function, you will have a practical system you can begin using as soon as you return to the office.

Walk in with a task on your desk. Walk out with a way to do it.

How the course will work

Day one builds the model. How these systems actually work. Thinking strategically about how to use AI well. How a major organization is actually adopting it. Then the first applied session, on advocacy and public affairs, with your hands on the keyboard. The day closes with a clinic and a working discussion.

Day two builds the practice. Three applied sessions back to back: business retention and funding, research and analytics, strategic communications. Then a closing clinic where you build your own method with faculty and coaches on the floor.

Two clinics, not one. You build something Thursday afternoon, sleep on it, and build again Friday with a full day of practice behind you. That sequence is deliberate.

Faculty

Dell Gines, Chief Innovation Officer, IEDC. Thinking strategically about how to use AI well. In the room both days.

Jefferson Barlew, VP of Delivery for AI/ML Data, Innodata. Previously AWS and Scale AI. PhD, Ohio State. How AI works.

Payal Thakur, Managing Director of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence and CDAIO, JobsOhio. How JobsOhio is using and advancing AI.

Adam Murka, Founder and President, Fidelity Strategies. Advocacy and public affairs.

Renee Smith & Sarah Stephens Krupp, Co-Founders, Thrive Community Partners. Renee spent 11 years leading the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation. BR&E and funding.

Joe Simkins, Principal and Chief Economist, TEConomy Partners. Research and analytics.

David Zak, President and CEO, OEDA. Certified Generative AI Strategic Leader through Google and Vanderbilt University. Strategic communications.

Floor coaches: Dell Gines, Joe Simkins, David Zak both days. Kristi Tanner, The O.H.I.O. Fund, and Jeremiah Gracia, City of Dublin, from OEDA's AI Committee. Session instructors work the floor alongside them.

Why 40 seats

Five floor coaches, in the room the whole time, with session instructors working alongside them. The closing clinic puts the entire faculty in the room at once.

That is what forty supports. Not sixty. Every applied block is coached, both clinics are working sessions rather than presentations, and nobody spends two days waiting for a hand to be raised at them. The coverage is the product.

Registration

$499 per person. One price, for everyone in the first class.

This is the first time we have run this. There is no early bird, no member rate, no tiers. Everyone in the inaugural cohort pays the same, because everyone in the inaugural cohort is doing the same thing: helping us build the next one.

That is the trade, and we mean it as one. We want a candid debrief afterward. What worked, what did not, what you would cut. Your read shapes the 2027 build and the AI curriculum behind it.

Forty seats, filled in the order registrations arrive. We do not expect to offer this again until 2027.

Lodging information: A variety of hotel options to fit specific travel needs and budgets are nearby. Visit VISIT DUBLIN OHIO for a full list of options. For those looking to stay close to the facility, the following hotels are recommended (all within six miles of Ohio University's Dublin campus): Columbus Marriott Northwest, Crowne Plaza Dublin, Embassy Suites Columbus-Dublin, and Residence Inn by Marriott. Please note that the start time for the first day is 9:45 a.m.

Thanks to JobsOhio, our primary training sponsor, as well as our other Leadership Circle partners, who help underwrite our educational programming.

Results Oriented Strategic Planning (19 Aug 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Join us for this Important Webinar on

Anchoring Your Strategic Plan

in Implementation and Results

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

10:30 - 11:30 AM

In partnership between

the Ohio Economic Development Association and

The Montrose Group

OEDA, in partnership with the Montrose Group, invites you to a working session on urning economic development strategic plans into real results. Whether you're beginning a new planning process or working to revitalize an existing plan, this session will give you the tools and framework to make implementation the driving force behind your strategy.

Too many economic development strategic plans end up gathering dust on a shelf, celebrated at their unveiling and forgotten soon after. This webinar tackles the central challenge of turning a strategic plan into real, measurable results. We begin where implementation actually starts: during plan development itself. You'll learn how to bake implementation into the plan from day one—by defining clear priorities, assigning ownership, setting realistic timelines, and building in the metrics and accountability structures that make follow-through possible. And we'll show how the choices made during drafting determine whether a plan can actually be executed once it's approved.

From there, the we will turn to the full life cycle of a plan in action. We'll cover what an organization should do immediately after adoption to build momentum—establishing governance, communicating responsibilities, securing resources, and creating reporting rhythms that keep partners engaged. We'll address how to keep the plan alive through disciplined annual updates that track progress and adjust priorities, as well as the comprehensive five-year overhaul that revisits the plan's foundations and resets direction. Whether you're launching a new planning process or breathing life into an existing plan, this webinar offers a practical framework for making implementation the heart of your economic development strategy.

Led by Nate Green and Matt McCollister of the Montrose Group – a Columbus, Ohio business consulting firm specializing in corporate site location, economic development planning, and government -- this webinar offers a practical framework for making implementation the heart of your economic development strategy.

OEDA Professional Development programs are made possible through the generous support of:

2026 OEDI Workforce and Talent Core Course (27 Aug 2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:00:00 GMT

2026 OEDI WORKFORCE AND TALENT COURSE

August 27 - 28, 2026

Note: The above dates are revised from earlier scheduling.

Ohio University - Dublin Integrated Education Center
6805 Bobcat Way | Dublin, Ohio 3016

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS END AUGUST 3, 2026

Course Description: This course covers the importance of workforce and and talent as a key economic development tool, as well as the key federal and state programs that support workforce. The course provides students with techniques to meet the job needs of both new and existing businesses. The course covers the changing demographic and economic dynamics of the workforce, best practices in Ohio and around the nation, JobsOhio workforce and talent programs, effective partnerships, the importance of data, and how local communities can leverage their resources into effective workforce programs.

FOR INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE!

Course Topics:

Workforce development as part of the economic development strategy

Effective workforce development strategies

Effective employer strategies

Ohio workforce players: A Survey of the Field

Research on Ohio’s workforce

Community workforce strategies: Knowing Your Assets

K-12 and the Emerging Workforce

Industry Sector Partnerships

Ohio-specific information for intermediate and advanced practitioners

Designed in collaboration with JobsOhio and Ohio University

The most up-to-date industry information

Interactive learning focused on participant engagement

Networking opportunities with the top economic and workforce development pros

FOR INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE!

Who Should Attend: This course is designed for all intermediate and advanced economic and workforce development practitioners, stakeholders and partners. In addition, elected officials and community leaders can benefit from learning about the importance of workforce for their community and how their community can structure a workforce program that meets employers’ needs.

Pre-Requisites: Because of the program’s rigor, attendees must have completed The Ohio Basic Economic Development Course or have three years of economic or community development experience.

Faculty: OEDI Core Courses are taught by experienced local, state, and national economic and workforce development practitioners. In addition to these lead instructor(s), each course has a unique faculty group made up on individuals who have been hand selected because of their subject matter expertise, leadership role in Ohio economic development, or role in the case studies utilized in the course.

Past Institute faculty has included representatives from: JobsOhio, the Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Means Jobs, Workforce Development Boards, employer human resource and workforce professionals, the six regional JobsOhio Network Partners, the International Economic Development Council, and Ohio universities.

Why OEDI: The Ohio Economic Development Institute (OEDI) is the premier training and professional development program for economic developers in Ohio. As a state-specific program, OEDI’s Core Courses focus on the practice of economic development in Ohio; including the state’s unique economic development structure and ecosystem. The Institute is made possible through the generous and continuing support of JobsOhio. OEDA’s academic partner is the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service.

Ohio Certified Economic Developer: OEDI courses are part of a comprehensive curriculum, but they can be taken singly. They also serve as the pathway to the Ohio Certified Economic Development (OhioCED) Credential. Individuals who successfully complete the five Core Courses, a project-based Capstone Course, and an additional 24 hours of electives, are eligible for the Ohio Certified Economic Developer or OhioCED.

Lodging information: A variety of hotel options to fit specific travel needs and budget are nearby. Visit VISIT DUBLIN for a full list of options. For those looking to stay close to the facility, the following hotels are recommended (all are within six miles of Ohio University’s Dublin Campus): Columbus Marriott Northwest, Crowne Plaza Dublin, Embassy Suites Columbus-Dublin, Residence Inn by Marriott. Please note that the start time for the first day is 9 a.m.

AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for this activity. More information about AICP's CM program can be found at AICP Planning CM

Policies & Additional Information

Full attendance on both days is required for the course to count towards certification.
Cancellations must be requested in writing no later than 7 days prior to each course to receive a full refund. Please note that no refunds will be issued after this date and registrations not canceled and pending payment are responsible for full payment. As an additional option, you may submit a request in writing to transfer your registration to another student up to 7 days prior to the course.
Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Walk-in registration cannot be accommodated.
If the multiple course rate is selected, the registrant must register for and attend at least one additional OEDI core course in 2026. If the registrant does not register for and attend an additional course, a $50 fee will be assessed and an invoice will be sent to the registrant.

Thank you to our Leadership Circle Investors for your generous support:

Building Competitive Advantage to Win Training (17 Sep 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:30:00 GMT

OEDA Member Only Exclusive:

Building Competitive Advantage to Win

Join us for the premier Economic Development Sales and Marketing Training Course

September 17, 2026 or September 18, 2026

Columbus State Community College Conference Center

Columbus, Ohio

By taking “Building Competitive Advantage you will: Dramatically increase the speed by which you customize and create your prospect or established business opening; tailor questions to uncover needs, perceived concerns and Ohio’s competitive position; present a quantified, credible location solution; and learn how to gain confirmation and close with confidence. This training will make you a better member of the presentation team, a better coach, and champion for your community and Ohio.

NOTE: The regular cost for this training is $549.00. Because of the generous support and sponsorship from JobsOhio, OEDA is able to offer this course for a members-only discounted rate of $399. Registration is limited, so register soon. The Building Competitive Advantage training is a hands-on interactive training session. You are encouraged to register soon. The agenda for the September 17 and September 18 sessions are the same.

Key topics include:

Understand the three requirements that Job Creators use to judge and rank your site and community.
Know the time limits and components of an effective Opening for hosts and subject matter experts.
Learn 4-Step Questioning to efficiently uncover and confirm the prospect’s strategic requirements, concerns, and your competitive ranking.
Apply the 3 Keys to Presenting enabling you to build, customize, and deliver a credible business case that differentiates your community.
Know your role in Closing. During the presentation each presenter should close their area of expertise. Learn how to close with confidence.
Build team confidence and competence by applying a 15-minute Preplan and 15-minute Debrief template.

About Carol Johnson:

Carol Johnson is a proven sales expert and is the founder of Continuous Dialog, a professional consulting company specializing in economic development and leadership sales training.

Carol’s finance and marketing skills were developed at Kraft, General Foods in New York. It was here she gained her first site selection experience from the corporate finance perspective.

Sales and Sales Management success was realized in leading successful sales and customer service teams in telecommunications. Carol won awards for new products that contributed millions to the bottom-line as well as top sales honors in every sales leadership position held.

Carol holds a BA in Marketing from Florida State University and a MBA in Finance from Indiana University. Carol lives in Atlanta, is married and has two daughters. She is active in community and social initiatives as well as youth leadership.

Here’s what your economic development peers have to say about Carol Johnson's training:

“Carol Johnson hits it out of the park! Captivating Keynote Speaker and Economic Development Sales Training that delivers immediate Return on Investment.”

John Bradley, SVP, TVA Economic Development

“I have worked with Carol in a number of capacities and have found her customized training to be a tremendous resource in building an effective economic development team.”

Gray Swoope, VisionFirst Advisors, CEO, and

former Secretary of Commerce & CEO of Enterprise Florida

“Carol Johnson is the best in economic development sales training.”

Del Boyette, Boyette Strategic Advisors

“We thought that $2 billion of economic development investments within 3 years would solve our problems. Well, it doesn’t; but Carol Johnson does! She is one of the most dynamic strategic planning facilitators I have ever seen or worked with in my 20 years in economic and community development. In my opinion, Carol Johnson is a rock star! Our community now has a continuous dialog.”

Joe Higgins, Jr. CEO, Golden Triangle Development Link, Mississippi

2026 OEDI Real Estate Development Course (24 Sep 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

2026 OEDI REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING CORE COURSE

September 24 - 25, 2026

Ohio University - Dublin Integrated Education Center
6805 Bobcat Way | Dublin, Ohio 43016

FOR INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE!

Course Description: This course teaches the critical steps of real estate development and helps attendees develop a comprehensive understanding of how a deal progresses from concept to completion. Attendees will analyze the anatomy of a real estate deal and learn how each component stage impacts the next. The economic developer will build the knowledge they need to more thoughtfully approach securing and closing the deal and what comes after.

Knowledge: Participants will learn about the important stages in real estate development; from the earliest stages of due diligence to occupancy and property management. Participants will gain the knowledge they need to determine project feasibility, how to finance real estate development and redevelopment, and how to recognize and overcome the challenges to advancing a new development in their community.·

Network: This course provides a forum for economic development professionals to share information and build relationships with the best in the real estate industry. Unlike traditional lecture-style trainings, this course focuses on participant and presenter engagement and interaction. This course provides unmatched opportunities to dialogue with instructors, speakers, and colleagues.

Course Topics: The course is constantly being updated to keep current with emerging real estate development issues and trends. Some of the past topics include:

What Real Estate Development is Right for Your Community
Project Feasibility from a Market, Financial and Political Perspective. Understanding ownership structures.
The ABC’s of LLC’s
Public Private Collaboration and Partnership
Due Diligence & Construction – Knowing the Risks and How to Avoid Them.
The Financial Anatomy of a Deal – Building a Proforma.
Marketing, Occupancy, and Property/Asset Management: Showing it, Filling it and Selling it
Closing the Gap: What Programs from JobsOhio and Other Sources Can Help a Deal Come Together

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Who Should Attend: This course is specifically designed to deliver comprehensive training in the use of finance and incentive programs; making it attractive to the intermediate level professional as well as the experienced practitioner who wants to brush up on the latest in project finance and new tools and programs.

Pre-Requisites: Because of the program’s rigor, attendees must have completed The Ohio Basic Economic Development Course or have three years of economic or community development experience. Individuals who will be taking the Ohio Basic Economic Development Course in the Spring of 2026* may register for this course.

Faculty: OEDI Core Courses are taught by experienced local, state, and national economic development practitioners. In addition to these lead instructor(s), each course has a unique faculty group made up on individuals who have been hand selected because of their subject matter expertise, leadership role in Ohio economic development, or role in the case studies utilized in the course.

Past Institute faculty has included representatives from: JobsOhio, the Ohio Department of Development, the six regional JobsOhio Network Partners, and experienced development finance experts.

Registration: Early Bird Registration of offers a discount to the regular OEDA member registration. The early-bird registration period ends August 1, 2026 and all registration options increase to the regular fee. Members are encouraged to register for multiple courses to receive special discounted pricing.

Ohio Certified Economic Developer: OEDI courses are part of a comprehensive curriculum, but they can be taken singly. They also serve as the pathway to the Ohio Certified Economic Development (OhioCED) Individuals who successfully complete the five Core Courses, a project-based Capstone Course, and an additional 24 hours of electives, are eligible for the Ohio Certified Economic Developer or OhioCED.

Lodging information: A variety of hotel options to fit specific travel needs and budget are nearby. Visit VISIT DUBLIN OHIO for a full list of options. For those looking to stay close to the facility, the following hotels are recommended (all are within six miles of Ohio University’s Dublin Campus): Columbus Marriott Northwest, Crowne Plaza Dublin, Embassy Suites Columbus-Dublin, Residence Inn by Marriott. Please note that the start time for the first day is 9 a.m.

AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for this activity.

Policies & Additional Information

1. Full attendance on both days is required for the course to count towards certification.

2. Cancellations must be requested in writing no later than 7 days prior to each course to receive a full refund. Please note that no refunds will be issued after this date and registrations not canceled and pending payment are responsible for full payment. As an additional option, you may submit a request in writing to transfer your registration to another student up to 7 days prior to the course.

3. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Walk-in registration cannot be accommodated.

4. If the multiple course rate is selected, the registrant must register for and attend at least one additional OEDI core course in 2026. If the registrant does not register for and attend an additional course, a $50 fee will be assessed and an invoice will be sent to the registrant.

Thank you to our Leadership Circle Investors for your generous support:

2026 OEDA Annual Summit (06 Oct 2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:30:00 GMT

2026 OEDA Annual Summit

October 6–9, 2026 | Dayton Convention Center | Dayton, Ohio

The 2026 OEDA Annual Summit will convene more than 500 economic development professionals for three energizing days of learning, inspiration, and meaningful connection—right in the heart of downtown Dayton. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting out, the Summit is designed to help you sharpen your skills, expand your network, and amplify your impact.

Highlights of this year's Summit include:

30+ Breakout Sessions organized into six dynamic tracks: Sites, Energy & Infrastructure; Workforce, Housing & Community Competitiveness; Finance, Incentives & Deal Strategy; Technology, Innovation & AI; Leadership, Partnerships & Community Engagement; and Wildcard (see flag #6)
Content for All Levels: Each track features sessions for beginner, intermediate, and advanced practitioners, plus focused spotlights on Dayton and the Dayton Region's innovations.
5 Experiential Tours / Learning Labs showcasing real-world projects and community partnerships.
10 high-impact IGNITE presentations—quick, powerful talks that spark new thinking.
Inspiring General Sessions and Keynotes featuring statewide and national voices in economic development.
Engaging Networking + Social Events that foster collaboration and community—like the Chairman's Reception, Women in ED, and the always-popular Late Night Trivia.
Pre-Conference Activities on October 6, including our annual community service project, a golf scramble, and an early arrival reception.

About the Host City – Dayton, Ohio

Dayton, the seat of Montgomery County, is a city in southwest Ohio's Miami Valley with a legacy of invention that still defines it. As the birthplace of aviation—home to Wilbur and Orville Wright—Dayton built a culture of engineering and ingenuity that lives on today in its aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing economy, anchored by nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Downtown Dayton is in the middle of a visible revitalization, from the restored Dayton Arcade to a reimagined riverfront, blending historic architecture with new energy. As a hub of the broader Dayton Region, the city pairs a diverse, innovation-driven economy with the walkable, welcoming feel of a community on the rise.

About the Venue – Dayton Convention Center

The newly reimagined Dayton Convention Center sits in the heart of downtown Dayton and serves as the central hub for the 2026 Summit. Following a major renovation, the modernized facility offers flexible meeting and exhibit space, a central downtown location within walking distance of hotels, dining, and entertainment, and a fresh, contemporary setting that makes it one of the region's premier event venues.

The 2026 OEDA Annual Summit will be among the first major statewide events hosted in the renovated center.

Where to Stay

OEDA has secured room blocks at five preferred hotels for the 2026 OEDA Annual Summit—all in or near downtown Dayton with easy access to the Dayton Convention Center. Rates and cut-off dates are confirmed for all five; online booking links are being finalized for the hotels noted below.

Hotel Ardent

$149 (king) / $159 (two queens)
10 min walk (0.4 mi) to Dayton Convention Center
Click here to book!

Hilton Garden Inn

Connected to Dayton Arcade
6 min walk (0.3 mi) to Dayton Convention Center
$169 (king or two queens)
Click here to book!

Fairfield Inn & Suites

Starting location of OEDA Fun Run/Walk
16 min walk (0.7 mi) to Dayton Convention Center
$179 (king or two queens)
Click here to book!

Vitality Hotel

Connected to Dayton Convention Center
$149 (king or two queens)
To Book: call 833.984.1818 and reference OEDA room block
- Booking link unavailable at this time

AC Marriott Downtown Dayton

$209 (king or 2 queens)
14 min walk (0.6 mi) to Dayton Convention Center
Click here to book!

Thank you to Our Sponsors!

Agracel • Bricker Graydon Wyatt • Bruns Construction Enterprises • Choice One Engineering • DDC • Findlay-Hancock ED • HDR • Huntington National Bank • I-70/75 Development Association • Lathrop Turner • Mannik Smith • Miller Valentine • Neighborhood Strategies • Norfolk Southern • Rudolph Libbe • Terracon • The Columbus Region

We are grateful to all our sponsors for their commitment and dedication to Ohio's economic development practitioners.

Interested in exhibiting or want to discuss available opportunities? Contact Jason Kester, Summit & Sponsorship Chair at jkester@agracel.com.

Visiting Dayton

Dayton offers visitors a rich mix of history, culture, and outdoor space. Aviation and history enthusiasts can explore the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, one of the world's largest military aviation museums and free to the public, or trace the Wright brothers' story through the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. Carillon Historical Park brings the region's innovation story to life across an open-air campus of historic buildings.

Art lovers can visit the Dayton Art Institute, while the historic Oregon District offers a walkable stretch of local restaurants, bars, and shops. For outdoor time, RiverScape MetroPark and the Five Rivers MetroParks system provide trails and riverfront space just minutes from the convention center.

Link: Visit Dayton (Dayton/Montgomery County CVB)

2026 OEDA Summit Golf Scramble Only (No Conference Access) (06 Oct 2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

OEDA's 2nd Annual Summit Golf Scramble

Sponsored by:

This year's golf scramble will be held at Springfield Country Club. This ticket is solely to participate in the golf scramble and does not include access to any other activities or programs associated with the 2026 OEDA Summit Conference held October 7-9.