Pursuing New Opportunities: Creating an Entrepreneurial Vision for Regional Development March 2006

Development District Association of Appalachia
Annual Conference

March 12-14, 2006
Arlington, Virginia

Today, change is the norm, and it is critical that local development districts (LDDs) embrace creative thinking and adaptability. As administrative costs continue to rise, districts must examine ways to improve operational standards and increase organizational efficiency. Yet districts cannot lose sight of their primary mission: to provide support and services to member governments and citizens for the betterment of their regions.

How districts are to walk this increasingly narrow tightrope of fiscal control and programmatic vision can keep LDD executive directors up at night as they try to develop strategies to squeeze more out of increasingly limited administrative funds. This conference will help encourage LDDs to think "entrepreneurially" from both inside and outside of the organization. Conference sessions will challenge districts to see themselves as catalysts whose mission is to help foster thriving, active communities; and present ideas and strategies to help districts think creatively to improve their management standards and overall operational effectiveness.

As part of this discussion, grantseeking and fundraising educator David Bauer will share funding strategies and advice on how districts can be effective entrepreneurial organizations. As participants in DDAA-sponsored satellite telecasts know, Mr. Bauer is a dynamic communicator with exceptional knowledge of grantsmanship and fundraising.

The 2006 Development District Association of Appalachia conference also marks the start of a new partnership with the National Association of Development Organizations' annual Washington Policy Conference. This partnership will help Appalachian districts reduce their conference time and travel costs as well as help strengthen the quality of both events. Highlights of this partnership include the opportunity to attend a performance of the widely acclaimed play Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center, and a session featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist David Broder of the Washington Post. Mr. Broder can also be seen as a regular commentator on CNN's Inside Politics as well as on PBS's Washington Week. In addition, he has made numerous appearances on NBC's Meet the Press. Mr. Broder is a real expert on the Washington political scene, and his presentation will be a "can't miss" for conference participants!