Maximizing opportunities and creating innovative strategies to move our economy forward   Thursday, November 19, 2009 – 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Hilton Hotel, 66 E. 6 th Ave., Eugene Oregon Public participation is welcome and encouraged at this FREE event.   Keynote Speaker – University of Oregon President Richard Lariviere   Regional Prosperity Summit: Break-out Session Descriptions Growing Local Opportunities Existing area businesses play a crucial role in sustaining the health of the local economy and in creating job opportunities.  What do businesses and entrepreneurs need to grow and operate their businesses within our region? Topics may include coordinating finance networks within the region, strengthening peer-to-peer support networks, site development assistance, etc. Glenda Poling, Business Development Officer with LibertyBank and former Business Director for Lane Metro Partnership will moderate this session. A summary of the discussion from this session available here. To request the unabbreviated notes from this section, please e-mail: lacey.l.risdal@ci.eugene.or.us The Creative Economy Our region’s economic success in the new economy will depend upon the capacity we have for innovation.  How do we strengthen our region’s entrepreneurial infrastructure to encourage the creation of new ventures and create products and services that are both new and valuable? This break-out session will focus on rejuvenating our region’s innovation engine.   Caroline Cummings, Director of Entrepreneurial Development at the Eugene Chamber, co-founder of Smart-ups Willamette Valley, and Regional Coordinator for the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, is the moderator for this session. A summary of the discussion from this session available here. To request the unabbreviated notes from this section, please e-mail: lacey.l.risdal@ci.eugene.or.us Talent for Tomorrow A talented workforce is the key to our region’s economic success.  How do we grow our own talent to meet the needs of existing businesses?   Building programs, partnerships and a regional culture that values learning, an entrepreneurial spirit, and creativity will help us grow and attract innovative talent to our region. Rosie Pryor, Vice President of Corporate and Community Relations for Oregon Community Credit Union and Lane Workforce Partnership Board President, will moderate this session. A summary of the discussion from this session available here. To request the unabbreviated notes from this section, please e-mail: lacey.l.risdal@ci.eugene.or.us   Basic Needs of Business Our region’s proximity to such a vast array of recreational opportunities yields it a power of place that not many other regions can boast.  To take full advantage of this power, we also must offer the infrastructure necessary for business development.  How do we strengthen the coordination between infrastructure, planning, land use, and economic development goals that allow businesses and workers to focus on the inherent beauty and power of our region as much as the basic needs of business? Jack Roberts, Executive Director of Lane Metro Partnership and former Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries and Lane County Commissioner, will moderate this session. A summary of the discussion from this session available here. To request the unabbreviated notes from this section, please e-mail: lacey.l.risdal@ci.eugene.or.us Key Industries To strengthen our local independence and resilience, we need to support the development of emerging opportunity areas, as well as continue to support the development of our current wealth generating sectors.  How do we assist businesses and entrepreneurs in key industries to expand and flourish in our region? Mike Sullivan, Community Development Manager for the City of Eugene, will moderate this session. A summary of the discussion from this session available here. To request the unabbreviated notes from this section, please e-mail: lacey.l.risdal@ci.eugene.or.us