MEDA's Legislative Conference
MEDA is excited to announce that, starting in 2025, our legislative conference will change to Economic Development Impact Day. "Impact" reflects the impact our members make as well as the impact that legislators can make through legislation and policy that are supportive of our work.
Since the role of legislators is crucial to the strength of economic development, legislators are welcome to attend.
To develop the conference around the most timely topics that represent member voices, MEDA's Advocacy Committee, a volunteer group of members, plans the agenda.
Highlights from Previous Impact Day Events
MEDA is a 501(c)3 non-partisan association, so the Committee uses an approach that is balanced in topics and speakers in order to represent all sides of the aisle.
- For example, in 2018, elections were taking place and MEDA invited all of the candidates to speak and were selected by very important candidates, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D). Candidates Attorney General Bill Schuette (R), Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley (R), Senator Patrick Colbeck (R), and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Former Health Commissioner for the City of Detroit (D), also participated.
Representing the entire state is very important as MEDA is a statewide association, so sessions regularly address all regions of the state.
- In 2021, three MEDA 2020 Legislative Economic Development Champions from opposite sides of the aisle discussed what they would like to see for growth as COVID-19 lost its hindering influence on Michigan. They also touched on policies and how they could impact economic development. Moderator: Justin Horvath, CEcD, President & CEO, Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership; Panelists: State Representative Ben Frederick; State Representative Abdullah Hammoud; and State Representative Steve Marino.
Addressing challenges that impact economic development work and discussing the policy changes needed for economic developers to be effective in attracting and retaining companies is also a part of Impact Day.
- In 2024, economic development advancement was being challenged by a lack of attainable, workforce housing in communities around the state. MEDA invited a top representative from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), Director of Partnerships and Engagement, Tim Klont, to talk about the next steps for the Statewide Housing Development Plan and how economic developers could assist in the advancement of the plan.
Attend Impact Day
If you would like to hear more about Impact Day, please contact MEDA. Conference information and registration are expected to be ready on the event page in February of 2025.
