2009 Governor's Regional and Rural Development Conference

The 2009 Governor’s Regional and Rural Development Conference will be held August 26-28, 2009 at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park. Registration is available at www.ruraldevelopmentconference.com.

This year’s conference will focus on preparing for Arizona's economic recovery, and will examine opportunities and initial progress resulting from Arizona’s share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Additional sessions include an update on the national, state and regional economies; Arizona’s competitiveness in site selection and incentives; energy efficiency, renewable energies, and much more.

The conference is a partnership between the Arizona Department of Commerce and the Arizona Association for Economic Development.

Please reference the "Governor's Regional and Rural Development Conference" when making reservations at the Wigwam Resort to receive the conference rate of $103 per night. Reservations may be made by calling 800-327-0396 or 623-935-3811.

Excellence Awards
Nominations for the 2009 Excellence Awards ended June 19.

The purpose of the Awards Program is to honor partnerships, organizations, associations, service clubs, and companies, which have successfully created and implemented community and economic development strategies for their respective regional/rural/tribal communities in the past year.

This year’s categories are:

Innovative Economic Development
Smart Growth
Cultural & Preservation Projects
Energy Efficiency
Renewable Energy
Future Leaders

Main Street Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 Main Street Awards.

Nominations are for activities and projects that have been completed in Arizona's Main Street communities over the past TWO fiscal years, July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009.

Up to nine awards may be given under three main categories:

Organization
Design/Economic Restructuring
Promotion

For guidelines and nomination forms, please click here.

Available 2008 RDC information:
* Click here to download PowerPoint presentations from 2008 conference sessions.
* Click here to see a list of awards and descriptions.

For 2007 RDC information, click here.

For 2006 RDC information, click here.
For photo highlights from the 2006 RDC, click here. (press slide show on the lower right-hand corner)