Economic development professionals attended the recent International Economic Development Council Leadership (IEDC) Summit in record numbers. The agenda addressed practical challenges facing communities nationwide.
RDG, a Convergent Company, participated actively in the summit, engaging with leaders on the event's central themes: talent, placemaking, and trust in community leadership. The event also served as a platform to introduce the merger between Convergent Nonprofit Solutions and RDG, underscoring a commitment to collaborative economic development.
Strong Attendance and Active Discussion
This year’s Leadership Summit brought together economic development executives, public sector leaders both statewide and federally, and industry partners, reflecting ongoing demand for effective community development strategies.
RDG and Convergent principals observed strong engagement throughout the conference. Many discussions extended beyond scheduled sessions, with informal conversations often centering on workforce development, talent attraction, and long-term community planning.
Seema Sheth, Senior Vice President and Regional Executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis delivered the keynote speech that combined economic data with current trends, prompting ongoing discussion during the summit.
Conference panels addressed the importance of trust among community partners. A notable session featured leaders from the Ohio Economic Development Association and regional organizations, including REDI Cincinnati, who discussed how consistent communication and information sharing support long-term partnerships in economic development.
Placemaking and Talent Remain Central Priorities
Sessions reinforced that talent attraction and placemaking remain top priorities for communities and are critical issues for economic development professionals.
Convergent Principal Rick Kiernan led a session on funding placemaking initiatives with Dennis Fraise, Develop This! Podcast Host, outlining how communities can assemble capital from philanthropic, public, and private sources. A case study highlighted financing a marina project in Fort Madison, Iowa, using a capital stack approach that combined grants, foundation support, and local investment. Completed in 2022, it helped generate 192 new jobs, $6.5 million in new earnings, and over $21 million in local expenditures in its first three years.
This example showed how targeted projects can advance talent attraction and quality-of-life goals while maintaining disciplined funding strategies. Attendees walked away with valuable information including:
- Evaluating community needs to identify placemaking projects with measurable economic impact
- Designing and implementing fundraising campaigns that resonate with traditional and nontraditional donors
- Positioning placemaking projects to secure broad-based support from public, private, and philanthropic sources
Attendees responded positively, asking detailed questions about the project's structure and funding strategy, which indicated strong interest in applying similar models in their own communities.
For many participants, the discussion reinforced a broader trend: smaller and mid-sized communities are pursuing ambitious projects when leadership aligns around a clear vision and funding plan.
Convergent and RDG Merger Announcement Drew a Strong Response
The merger between Convergent and RDG was a key topic at the conference. Leaders from both organizations hosted a pre-summit reception for clients, partners, and colleagues. The merger offers clients access to a broader range of expertise and expanded services through the combined strengths of both organizations.
Attendance exceeded expectations, with over two dozen economic development leaders present. Discussions focused on collaboration opportunities and expanded service capacity.
The merger also received public recognition during a conference luncheon. When the partnership was mentioned in remarks introducing the keynote speaker, attendees responded with spontaneous applause.
Throughout the summit, many visitors stopped by the Convergent and RDG booth to offer congratulations, discuss future collaboration, and express interest in the enhanced expertise now available. Economic development professionals were especially interested in how the unified firm can provide more effective support for capital fundraising and campaign management.
Connect with RDG, a Convergent Company, about Economic Development Campaign Strategy
Economic development organizations and chambers of commerce continue to pursue complex funding strategies to support workforce programs, infrastructure improvements, and placemaking.
RDG, a Convergent Company, offers campaign planning, feasibility analysis, and fundraising leadership for these initiatives. Contact us to discuss campaign strategy, capital fundraising, and community investment.
