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Appalachian Ohio State of the Region Conference

Appalachian Ohio State of the Region Conference

13th Appalachian Ohio State of the Region Conference: Building Thriving Communities

 May 13, 2025 | 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Ohio University, 
Baker University Center Ballroom
Athens Ohio

 

The Appalachian Ohio State of the Region Conference brings public officials, economic development experts, business and organizational leaders and others to discuss different issues related to economic growth in the Appalachian Ohio region. The event is part of the Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center project. 

 2025 Conference Schedule

 

TimeSession
8:30 – 8:50 a.m.Registration and Networking
8:50 – 9:15 a.m.Welcome Remarks
 

Misty Crosby: Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service Senior Executive in Residence for Local Government Services

Dean Tracy Plouck: Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

John Carey: Director, Governor’s Office of Appalachia

Jason Jolley: Master of Public Administration Director Interim Associate Vice President for Research and Creative Activity

Other speakers to be announced.

9:15 – 10:20 a.m.Housing
 

Presenters to be announced.

Moderator: Kathy Zook, Appalachian Regional Commission Program Manager, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments

10:20 – 10:40  a.m.Break
10:40 – 11:45 a.m.

Tourism

 

Presenters to be announced.

Moderator: Stephanie Gilbert, Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission

11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.Lunch Break 
12:15 – 1:20 p.m.Childcare
 

Presenters to be announced.

Moderator: Dr. Vicki King-Maple, Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association

1:20 – 2:25 p.m.Downtown Development
 

Presenters to be announced.

Moderator: To be announced

2:25 – 2:30 p.m.Closing Remarks

 

 

 

About the EDA University Center

Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service was first established as an U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center in 1996. The Voinovich School University Center is a joint project with Bowling Green State University which collectively serves 59 rural Ohio counties: 32 Appalachian counties and 27 counties in northwestern Ohio.

EDA University Centers are a partnership of the federal government and academia that makes the varied and vast resources of universities available to the economic development community.

The ongoing support received through the EDA assists the Voinovich School in providing direct business assistance services, applied research initiatives and an annual State of the Region Conference. The overall result is the positioning of the region for economic growth.

Sponsors

Partners

Local Development Districts

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