🌟 Celebrating Excellence in Economic Development 🌟
We’re thrilled to announce that Kent’s Economic Development team was nominated for the Community Partner of the Year Award by CAMPS - Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound! 🎉
This prestigious nomination shines a spotlight on the team’s unwavering dedication to fostering a vibrant and innovative manufacturing ecosystem that benefits Kent and the broader region.
The recognition reflects over a decade of meaningful collaboration with CAMPS and the team’s steadfast support for advanced manufacturing—a cornerstone of our local economy.
Representing Kent with pride, William Ellis and Michelle Wilmot attended the awards banquet alongside Council President Satwinder Kaur and Councilmember Bill Boyce. While the award went to another deserving nominee, this acknowledgment is a testament to the incredible work and impact of our Economic Development team.
👏 Please join us in congratulating the team on this well-deserved recognition and their continued efforts to drive economic growth in Kent!
#EconomicDevelopment#AdvancedManufacturing#Partnerships#WeAreKent
If you care about community and you love wine, we have a great combo for you! Bernie Mazyck is going to talk with us about Community Economic Development (#CED for short). Think of the Economic Development buckets like this:
1) Traditional Economic Development are the folks doing the great work building industrial parks, fielding questions from site selectors, and helping businesses understand regulations and incentives. Think: Attraction and Retention.
2) High Growth Economic Development focuses on businesses that can grow quickly, establish new headquarters, incubate, help with venture capital and angel investment.
3) Community Economic Development focuses on the people and places that the overall economy has passed by, or skipped over. Could be a downtown, could be a low-income neighborhood, could be groups of people who have not shared in the relative successes of their community.
All three of these are important. But some people are more drawn to work on one area. If you are interested in learning more about CED, we have a great opportunity to hear from the leader of South Carolina's CED efforts.
You'll also get to enjoy some local wine afterward and network with others who are interested in CED. Part of CED is supporting locally-owned, independent businesses, so let's support a local winery!
Register Here: https://lnkd.in/eJVbtVPf#communityeconomicdevelopmentVillage LaunchStart:ME SpartanburgLocal Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)Dawn C. Deck#CDFILatorrie GeerCommunityWorks
Why invest in Stratford?
Stratford's City leadership has strategically invested in infrastructure and services that support innovation and economic growth. Large and small businesses benefit from numerous initiatives that sustain Stratford's growth and development.
Visit investstratford.com to learn about the advantages of Stratford.
#investStratford#CityofStratford#StratfordON
I attended the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County event on Wednesday, where they showcased the remarkable journey of four companies they've nurtured and supported in Sarasota County. The insights shared by these individuals were truly invaluable.
🚀 Owner of FleetForce, Tra Williams, had words that resonated deeply: "Move confidently forward." It's a reminder that in business, as in life, confidence is key. Embrace challenges and keep pushing forward.
🔨 Mike from Big Top Brewing Company had advice that was a game-changer: "If it’s a block wall, and a problem, find a way to make it a steel frame wall." This mindset shift is powerful. It's about transforming obstacles into opportunities, turning weaknesses into strengths.
🌱 Marcus Walfridson from Sarasota Paradise highlighted the importance of community: "Use the community as a starting point. Ask for help; don’t give up." Collaboration and support from the community can fuel incredible growth. It's a reminder that we're stronger together.
💡 Vladimir Durshpek's, from D-Trans, LLC, spoke on Sarasota County: "If you want to have a good life, this is the place to be." This is a testament to the thriving business environment and quality of life Sarasota offers.
✨ These quotes encapsulate the spirit of innovation, resilience, and community that defines Sarasota County. I am proud to be part of such a vibrant and supportive ecosystem!
#SarasotaEDC#Community#Innovation#BusinessGrowth#Resilience#SarasotaCounty#Inspiration
It’s no secret that Huddersfield is going places.
The £1billion of public investment injected into our town is now beginning to show. Cranes on the horizon, new civic, retail and entertainment offers to bring people back to the town centre, Investment Zone opportunities to deliver high-quality jobs, a state-of the-art health & wellbeing campus with global reach, a railway that will provide better connectivity, our local businesses thriving and growing, to name but a few of the signs that Huddersfield is rapidly becoming a hot-spot for investors with an eye for opportunity.
Our annual conference returns on October 24th, and this year, we are celebrating not just all the positive things that are happening, but the equally important new narrative that Huddersfield is forging for itself. The next chapter…
We have much to celebrate and much work to do. This year’s event is kindly sponsored by Huddersfield Town AFC, and will bring together all the key stakeholders who are steering this town to success.
We will be joined by:
Kevin M. Nagle (Chairman of HTAFC)
Carole Pattison (Leader of Kirklees Council)
Sarah Bowes (Head of Business, Innovation and Inclusive Economy at WYCA)
David Shepherd (Executive Director for Place at Kirklees Council)
Harpreet Uppal MP (Huddersfield)
Paul Davies MP (Colne Valley)
Aaron Holt (CEO Holdson Ltd)
Senior leaders from local businesses who have invested in Huddersfield with great success.
Get your ticket here 👇
https://lnkd.in/eWaR3An4#Huddersfield#Growth#Investment#MomentumHuddersfield Town Football ClubLet's Go HuddersfieldKirklees CouncilJohn HarmanLiz Towns-Andrews OBECharles MaltbySue CookeChris DuffillLeah StuartJason WhitworthOliver SmithMaya Howcroft
Our Directors Elaine Warwicker and Hayley Parker attended the event between the Honourable Company of Gloucestershire, and the University of Gloucestershire where David Owen shared the Gloucestershire economic growth strategy.
It was great to understand the growth plans for the county for the next 25 years, with the 3 key priorities underpinning the achievement of the vision highlighted as:
- Business innovation and growth
- Continuing to build skills and employment
- Transitioning to being carbon neutral
Exciting plans ahead! And with big ambition comes the need to have not only a clear vision, but clear objectives to achieve it, as highlighted by Ruth Dooley who was a great chair for the event.
This coupled with David’s “how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time” comment when explaining the ambition for the county and taking it forward, along with the importance of alignment and collaboration so that all stakeholders achieve together, really resonated with us as it’s these key areas that underpin all of our work with clients.
#ImprovingPerformanceTogether#GrowthStrategy#GloucestershireEconomicGrowthStrategy
Larry Curtis, President and Managing Partner of WinnDevelopment, recently discussed the pivotal project of his career in Affordable Housing Finance Magazine’s series, “The Development that Changed My Life." Starting his career with Winn in 1986, Larry assumed his current leadership role at WinnDevelopment in 2003. The redevelopment of Boott Mills in Lowell, MA, was the first historic adaptive reuse project that Larry pursued with Winn, transforming the long-vacant historic mill into The Apartments and Lofts at Boott Mills, a 154-unit mixed-income community. Read more about how Boott Mills changed the trajectory of Larry's career here: https://lnkd.in/enXtW9wj
🌟 Don't miss out on our upcoming webinar on August 22nd at 2 pm ET: "Building Bridges to Prosperity: Chambers' Impact on Education, Workforce, and Economic Growth" 📢
Co-sponsored with the Detroit Regional Chamber, this event will shed light on the pivotal role chambers play in driving regional prosperity. From facilitating access to education and training resources to advocating for public policy, chambers are instrumental in cultivating thriving communities and promoting diversity and inclusivity. Join us as we delve into how collaborating with CAEL opens doors to forging new pathways for regional development.
Our distinguished speakers include Christi Taylor, Senior Director, Talent Initiatives at the Detroit Regional Chamber, and Meghan Schmidbauer, Ed.D., MBA, Senior Director, Detroit Drives Degrees at the Detroit Regional Chamber. Secure your spot now! 🌐 https://hubs.li/Q02L4GCL0#ChamberOfCommerce#WorkforceDevelopment#EconomicGrowth 🌟
Founder, Team Wildfire. Exec Dir Wildfire Labs. Problem solver, expert witness, TV producer, author, keynote speaker, STEM presenter of the year. Techstars’23! Host: The Fire Break. If it's impossible, count me in.
There’s an exciting trend developing; people who don’t come from a “fire background” are being drawn to the fire space, bringing new perspectives, talents and experience to bear on the wildfire crisis. Seth Schalet is a great example.
Drawing on decades of business and philanthropy leadership experience, Seth turned the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council into the only such organization to pay its own way, with profitable operations and a full time staff. As he’s done many times with previous ventures, he’s used his keen business skillls and powerful collaborative abilities to turn SCCFC into a brilliantly effective and self sustaining model for other non-profits. Very few people understand the concept of “no margin, no mission” as well as does this dynamic CEO. And as I mention in the show, Seth Schalet is one of the best examples of what it means to be a mensch. (Look it up if you don’t know the term.)
Learn a few of his secrets to success here in his fascinating interview.
Spoiler, it begins with character, integrity, humility, curiosity, and drive.
Suffolk-based Digital Transformation Coach focused on helping businesses and individuals thrive in the digital age. I offer coaching, workshops, and consultancy in the East Region. 07765 852887
You can all stop sending this to me - I have seen it! 😁
Firstly I want to congratulate Steve Flory, I really do think he's the perfect choice for the role of chair of Ipswich Central. 👏 For those who don’t know him, Steve is a true local hero—a trusted businessman who’s spent decades quietly and consistently making a difference. Whether it’s serving as a governor in our schools or lending his time and expertise to help local businesses thrive, Steve has always embodied the best of Suffolk: practical solutions, deep community roots, and a determination to make things better.
Having spoken to Steve, I’m have confidence that he understands both the shape and scale of the challenges ahead. More importantly, he’s ready to tackle them with pragmatic, everyday solutions that reflect the heart of our community. This is a pivotal moment for Ipswich Central—and for Suffolk.
But let me also be clear: it’s going to take more than just new leadership. It’s going to take all of us.
The reason I’ve poured my energy into initiatives like Innovate Suffolk, Empower Us, and the Young Enterprise Association (YEA) is simple. Two years ago, I experienced firsthand the harm caused by unaccountable systems when I faced two separate legal threats from Ipswich Central simply for advocating transparency and collaboration. It created financial and emotional distress that forced me to leave Suffolk for a time. Yet that challenging experience became the catalyst for the work I do today.
BIDs (quangos) and similar organisations (like ALMOs) don't always serve communities well. As Against BID has taught me, unregulated models like these can block business growth and data sharing, limiting local authorities’ ability to plan effectively.
Cronyism and control have held Ipswich back, but with a new chair and fresh mindset, we can start having open, honest conversations about what truly works.
Look at the indie projects we've seen spin up to make positive change! Ipswich.love, Ipswich.co.uk, Longfields Circle to name just a few. Through Innovate Suffolk, Empower Us and Young Enterprise Association Suffolk we’re creating spaces for people to collaborate, learn, and grow. This is the kind of work that brings communities together, empowers individuals, and drives real progress.
We’re ready to do our part, but Suffolk needs to do the work, too.
That means:
* Transparency: Show us the data. If something isn’t working, let’s fix it.
* Accountability: Stop protecting positions and start delivering results.
* Collaboration: No more gatekeeping. Let’s break down silos and share the load.
Steve’s appointment is a chance for us to reset. I've been paying close attention to the work of the new Business Board and I have to say I am impressed. These are all opportunities to move past the old ways of doing things and build something better together.
Here’s to a brighter future. 🌟
#Leadership#Innovation#SuffolkBusiness#CommunityDrivenChange#IntentionalCommunity
We're pleased to announce that Steve Flory will be the new Chair of Ipswich Central, from 1 January 2025.
Steve, a lifelong resident of Ipswich and Managing Director of Hudson Group, brings with him over 40 years of private sector experience and a deep commitment to the town as a passionate supporter of local businesses and community champion.
Steve says of his appointment: “I’m honoured to take on this role as Chair of Ipswich Central and look forward to working with our extensive professional network to strengthen the BID’s efforts and help Ipswich thrive.”
Steve succeeds Terry Baxter, who steps down at the end of December after a decade as Chair. Terry will continue his role as Chief Executive at Inspire and has recently been appointed Chair of Suffolk New College. Reflecting on his tenure, Terry said: “After 10 years as Chair, now is the right time for fresh leadership. I wish Steve, Lee, and the entire Ipswich Central team every success as they continue delivering for our town.”
Lee Walker, CEO of Ipswich Central, adds: “Steve’s passion for Ipswich and its business community is clear, and his leadership will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our efforts for the benefit of the town."
Steve echoes the collective focus of the team, stating: “Together, we can make Ipswich a safer, more welcoming place where people enjoy spending time. My goal is to bring the town back to the happier, vibrant place it deserves to be - for the benefit of businesses, residents, and visitors alike.”
Read more about the appointment here: https://lnkd.in/eEkEFMEk
Director of Community Development at City of Bozeman, MT
1wCongrats Bill & Michelle! A well-deserved nomination for your amazing work. Miss you two!