The Innovate Michigan! Summit returns for a fourth year to Michigan State University from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 10 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, hosted by the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development.
Economic developers, entrepreneurs, business and community leaders, investors, scholars, students, and local and state government officials are invited to attend and create unique and innovative approaches aimed at furthering economic growth in Michigan.
“Innovation in economic development is needed now more than ever,” said Rex LaMore, director of the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development.
Funded by a five-year, $915,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration in 2012, MSU’s Center for Regional Economic Innovation is growing a statewide virtual network to help generate new models, policies and practices that will improve the state’s economic future.
The Summit provides an additional platform for idea generation, networking, discussion and gives REI the opportunity to present summaries of their work from the past year.
“REI is unique in that it offers a crowd-sourced method to creating, identifying and sharing innovative approaches to economic development,” said Jennifer Bruen, CCED project coordinator. “The Summit provides an opportunity to explore those innovative possibilities.”
Featured speakers include:
- Terry Link, Starting Now, LLC
- Bill Stough, Sustainable Research Group
- 9:30-10:10 a.m., Room 104B
- Discussion of different policies and practices that would support and sustain Triple Bottom Line businesses, a business model that not only provides the entrepreneur with a good life, but also aims to address urgent social issues.
- Eric Frederick, Connect Michigan
- 10:20-11 a.m., Room 104B
- Discussion of findings from an REI-funded Co-Learning Plan project on the economic benefits of teleworking and telework centers.
- Keynote Address: Nailah Ellis-Brown, Ellis Infinity Beverage Company
- 3 p.m., Kellogg Center Auditorium
- Ellis-Brown was born, raised and educated in Detroit and now operates a successful and expanding Detroit business that produces an all-natural hibiscus tea originally brewed and sold in the Bronx by her great-grandfather.
More information, including registration details and speaker information, is available at REI’s website, http://www.reicenter.org/.