Among the things the pandemic brought into clear focus was how fragile our supply chains are — and for the general public, awareness of the term "supply chain." A suite of new approaches has been launched by the federal government to strengthen manufacturing with particular focus on workforce, supply chains and technology. In this session, we'll take a look at what has been launched, what Congress is still considering, and where the future might take us.

Billions of dollars are being spent by federal, state and local governments, universities and the private sector in regions all across the country to support a diverse pool of more than 1,000 programs and initiatives dedicated to increasing local, innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Leadership models to ensure the shared grand vision for their region is achieving the desired effectiveness from all of those activities and investments vary substantially. In this session we'll dive into two approaches to regional coordination that are simultaneously achieving near-term results and long-term positive change, but probably not without a few knocks, bumps and pivots along the way toward their record of success.

Join your fellow attendees for a closing session that will recap lessons learned over the course of the conference and provide some final perspective on the outlook for tech-based economic development in the rest of 2022.

At least 53 communities in 24 states and Puerto Rico are seeking new residents through remote work by offering cash, covering moving costs or providing other incentives. Other communities, particularly in rural areas, have launched initiatives preparing a remote workforce to remain in town. Though the idea of remote work and talent attraction of those workers started before the pandemic, COVID-19 has accelerated the movement. What is working and what does the future look like in talent attraction and remote workforce development? How has remote work spurred states to attract talent? And how are educational institutions working with industry and preparing workers for this new phase? Join this group of leaders who are working to revitalize their regions through innovative remote workforce initiatives.

Most economic development and innovation-focused organizations are long overdue for better metrics, metrics that drive positive change and greater impact from the public investments made into the initiatives. But where to start? What to pick? How to measure? Armed with the best from IRIS and an SSTI survey of common impact measures in current practice, session participants will -- together -- identify the next best system for measuring progress, impact and performance.

According to data from the Kauffman Fellows Research Center, “Ethnically diverse startup founding teams and executive teams both raise more money from and provide higher returns for investors.” While Black, Latino, women and Tribal Nation entrepreneurs enjoyed a small portion of the explosion in 2021 venture capital, many of these founders still consistently experience barriers accessing risk capital.  How can we change this dynamic? Change toward increasing your social impact may start from the lessons and advice shared by the venture development organizations participating in this interactive discussion.

Research shows that diversity inherently drives innovation. Yet in 2022, Black, Latino, and women entrepreneurs are still not participating at optimal levels in the innovation space. How can we change this dynamic and achieve greater equity and inclusion in our organizations, our portfolios and the broader innovation community? In this panel discussion, you will learn actionable steps to improve your organization’s social impact from a select group of organizations that are successfully working to attract and support underrepresented startup founders.

Numerous federal initiatives support hundreds of research, innovation and entrepreneurship programs and facilities across the country – why not add your university and/or organization to the mix to expand your capacity to achieve even greater impact? During this session, participants will have an opportunity to participate in small group discussions with federal officials to learn more about their programs, priorities, and funding opportunities.

Kansas State University embraced the call from the state’s Board of Regents to develop a plan that would build the economic prosperity of the state. Dubbed 3k3B, the resulting strategy is expansive, bringing new thinking to the state’s areas of strength to support the creation of 3,000 direct jobs and $3 billion in direct investment to Kansas. Hear from those behind the plan, learn what elements went into the design and planning process, and broaden your own thinking into the roles that the university and its research capabilities can play in driving a state’s economy.