Southwest Wisconsin BEST Conference
Schedule and Program
| Tuesday, March 11th, 2008, 1:00 - 8:00 PM (check-in and exhibits start at 12:00 noon) Baymont Convention Center, Belmont, WI |
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| 12:00 PM | Check-In and Exhibits |
| 1:00 PM | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| 1:30 PM | Keynote: Place-Base Economies by Rebecca Anderson |
| 2:30 PM | Break |
| 3:00 PM | Success Stories |
| 4:00 PM | Regional Collaborations |
| 5:00 PM | Networking and Social Hour |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner Program |
| Keynote: Place-Based Economies | Rebecca Anderson, HandMade in America, introduces the movement toward "Place-Based Economies"—citing examples of projects that take local products, talents and skills to create economic solutions for a region. She emphasizes the importance of having a mix of economic bases, not relying on just one (or a few) major industries. She shares the experience of Asheville, North Carolina, as they watched large industries leaving the area and asked what they could invest in that couldn't move out? The answer was looking at culture, natural resources and tourism as economic sectors that were tied to "place" and focusing on development of their small communities and unique regional assets. Rebecca also discusses two aspects of HandMade's approach to developing place-based economy: (1) featuring and building on the assets of the region to create a regional identity, and (2) bringing 23 counties together to collaborate as a region. |
| Success Stories | What are some examples of community and economic development activities that are working in the region? How did the Coalition and BEST Conferences encourage and support these regional collaborations? Join in the conversation with your own success stories. |
| Regional Collaborations | What does it take to create a region? And where do I fit in? Representatives from regional initiatives examine the importance of regional collaborations—and explore next steps for individuals and communities to get involved. |
| Dinner Program |
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