OhioSE hosting economic development training for local leaders

Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is hosting a free, virtual training on Friday, Nov. 15 to guide elected officials, board members and community leaders through the essentials of economic development. Join OhioSE and discover how one can drive economic development growth and make a real impact in their community.

The 2024 ED Now Conference will take place via Zoom Webinar from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 15. Participants will learn how to effectively support and collaborate with development professionals, attract and retain businesses and leverage local assets.

“I have designed this training program to help elected officials, board members and community leaders recognize their unique roles and how we can work together to support economic development in our communities across all 25 counties in the OhioSE region,” said Destiny Bryson, OhioSE Manager of Engagement and Partnerships.

OhioSE is excited to welcome Chad Chancellor, co-founder of Next Move Group, LLC, as this year’s conference keynote speaker. As chairman of Next Move Group, Chancellor is responsible for implementing the company’s long-term mission of creating economic growth for small and mid-sized companies, communities, and nonprofit organizations. He is best known for his content creation via the “We Are Jobs Podcast” and the Next Move Group YouTube Channel.

“I was raised in a small town, and when I was a child, my dad and four of his siblings lost their jobs when a manufacturing plant was moved to China,” said Chancellor. “My dad got work in construction after the plant closed but then he was gone for weeks at a time. I saw what happens when we offshore our jobs, and I am passionate about helping small to mid-sized communities grow their economies so others don't have to go through the pain my family did.”

The two-hour training will dive into the fundamentals of economic development and guide participants on how they can play a pivotal role in fostering growth and collaboration. Topics will include positioning oneself as a key player in economic development, why confidentiality is vital and how strong infrastructure underpins local industry success, how effective incentives can secure deals and more.

“The National League of Cities just conducted a survey of elected officials nationwide and economic development was the number one topic they said they wanted to learn more about,” said Chancellor. “It’s important for elected officials and community leaders to learn how investing in economic development provides a long-term return on investment and creates opportunities for their citizens.”

Elected officials, board members and community leaders are invited to register for the conference at http://bit.ly/EDNOW-2024 and take the next step toward creating meaningful change in their communities.

“I hope everyone who attends walks away with a better understanding of how economic development truly works, so afterwards it isn’t just jargon but something that is very easy to understand,” said Chancellor.

Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties. Geographically the largest of the seven regions across the state, OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies and other entities to expand, retain and attract businesses in the counties they serve. Learn more at OhioSE.com.

JobsOhio, Ohio's private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across 10 competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow JobsOhio on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.