Save the Date: February 20, 2026

Localizing Impact: Communities and The Future

About the 2026 Symposium

As global systems undergo turbulence and funding priorities shift, the future of economic development is increasingly shaped at the local level. This year’s Symposium explores how cities, states, tribal nations, and regions are charting their own course—reimagining funding models, revitalizing downtowns, forging international partnerships, and building resilient, innovation-driven economies. The program focuses on how localized leadership can seize emerging opportunities amid policy uncertainty, with particular attention to diversification, infrastructure transformation, and community-led innovation clusters that link development to global investment trends.