June 9, 2022
By Dianna Dunne-Vecchio, Content Writer and Marketing Manager
CALED’s 2022 Annual Conference proudly provided the RSG team and countless other conference attendees a warm welcome back to in-person economic development discussions, learning, and networking in the beautiful Long Beach, CA. This year, it was held from May 10–12 and was centered around the theme “Refresh.”
I was lucky enough to attend this renowned event, accompanied by RSG Principal and President Jim Simon and Research Assistant Monroe Roush; what an exhilarating experience it was! We met with local governments, agencies, developers, investment firms, and nonprofits from across the state, all with one common goal: to roll up their sleeves and continue tackling economic development challenges in hopes of uplifting all communities towards greater prosperity and equity.
As a first-time economic development conference attendee, I felt like a sponge — absorbing the knowledge and new perspectives that so many openly and excitedly shared. General Sessions hosted speakers who touched on recovery and resiliency from economic disruptions, an overview of the economy, available programs and resources, legislation, and operationalizing equity objectives. We attended small group discussions and even had the special opportunity to catch a 60-minute narrated boat tour of the Port of Long Beach, the second-busiest container seaport in the United States.
It was clear to me that the passion and optimism within each attendee radiated far past the physical constraints of these conference walls and the office buildings back at home. Caring for communities is in their blood, and these industry leaders continuously emphasized the importance of partnerships. No one person, entity, or solution can solve it all. Teamwork really does make the dream work. We can’t wait for what’s in store next year!
At RSG, our economic development team has never been stronger. If you’re looking for assistance with planning, executing, or fine-tuning your economic development priorities, connect with us at [email protected].