Gearing up for the CEC Conference
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EmailHow to get the most out of the state-wide CEC Conference on Oct 5-6 in Port Huron, MI.
We are excited to share what we’ve been doing to gear up for the upcoming state-wide Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference. New this year, we’ll have three keynote speakers and record-breaking 26 breakout sessions to choose from. The entire focus is to teach community teams how to be more entrepreneurial friendly and provide tips, tools, best practices and success stories to support entrepreneurial growth in their community.
With break-out sessions embedded in shops and venues throughout the downtown, the conference offers the unique opportunity to not only learn about, but experience an entrepreneurial community. Plus, these venues are great networking opportunities to share best practices and learn what other communities are doing to support entrepreneurs. We all have a part to play in supporting local businesses and entrepreneur development in our communities.
We’ve learned that for maximum success in implementing the great ideas learned at the CEC Conference, communities should have a variety of organizations that can be equipped to spread the word and mobilize local efforts. Representatives can come from business, chamber, DDA, Main Street, local government, education, economic development organizations, SCORE, SBDC, service clubs, churches and more. Although we stress the importance of team attendance, you can certainly come as an individual.
Join other like-minded community leaders as we learn new programs and resources, share best practices and ideas, empower ourselves and others to assist entrepreneurs, and grow our local communities. Visit the CEC webpage to stay up to date on the latest CEC news and information, or you can check us out on Facebook.
“Michigan State University Extension has had a unique relationship with the regional economic development organization Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) for more than 20 years. Recognizing the strength of combining resources, this partnership focuses on economic development, entrepreneurship growth and community infrastructure throughout a four-county region in the northwest Lower Peninsula, specifically Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet counties. As a result, the NLEA utilizes resources offered through MSU Extension as it provides leadership to state-wide programs sponsored by MSU Extension.”
