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  2025 Summit Producer                      2025 Summit Host                    2025 Presenting Sponsor

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Welcome

You are invited to the 2025
Stand Up Rural America Summit 

COME JOIN US!  

 

I’d like to personally invite you to this national Rural Economic Development Summit taking place July 29-July 31, 2025. Our exciting host city for our 2025 gathering is Canyon, Texas. The event will be held at the beautiful Canyon ISD Event Center and other special locations around the area. The 2025 Stand Up Rural America Summit will feature more than 20 nationally renowned subject matter experts and successful economic development practitioners. 

Topics covered include planning, leadership, entrepreneurship, downtown revitalization, rural tourism, sustainability, innovative marketing, business retention & expansion, effective communications, rural retail development, diverse housing, talent development, best practices and much more. We will also be presenting the 2025 Jim Walton Impact Award and recognizing our 2025 Rural Trailblazers. And as always, the sharing of tips, tricks and resources will be off the charts. 

Experience an event designed specifically for Rural America. You will receive tangible tools and strategies to help your cities, counties and regions grow. This event is packed with informative and dynamic panels, presentations, discussions, networking and celebrating what makes Rural America special. The Stand Up Rural America program has held highly successful events in Tulsa OK, Charleston WV, Somerset KY, Mulvane KS, Laurel MS, Decorah IA, and French Lick IN while garnering high praise for the superior level of speakers, quality content and excellent networking opportunities.  

This Summit is coordinated by ACCELERATION by design LLC. It has been my privilege to work with more than 450 rural communities and regions throughout my 34+ year economic development career. We thank the Canyon Economic Development Corporation for graciously serving as our 2025 Summit Host. And thanks to The High Ground of Texas for being our generous Presenting Sponsor. We are so excited to be working with this awesome team representing the Texas Panhandle and High Ground Region! 

This Summit is perfect for Economic Development Organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Cities, Counties, Regional Groups, Utilities, Industry Leaders, Lenders, Workforce Development, Elected Officials, ED & Chamber Board Members and anyone with a vested interest in the growth and prosperity of Rural America. 

Summit sponsorships are available and we will host an exciting exhibit area. Registration for the Summit is open and we also offer a special group registration rate for five or more participants from one organization. We recognize your travel and budget challenges and want to do all we can to help you participate in the Summit.

 

We are excited to roll out a brand new Stand Up Rural America website in Spring of 2025! Not only will it function as the information and registration site for the annual SURA Summit and SURA Regional Forums, but it will be active throughout the year with additional resources, blogs and case studies updated regularly to assist rural communities in their growth efforts. We are also adding a new App for the Summit. We can't wait to roll out these new initiatives for our rural trailblazers throughout the USA. 

You won't want to miss this special Summit. Please join me July 29 - July 31 in Canyon, Texas to celebrate Rural America! 

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Grab your boots and cowboy hats....

Let's Go! See you there! 

 Lorie  Vincent

Lorie Vincent, CEcD

Founder | President

ACCELERATION by design LLC

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Watch as our amazing speaker slate is announced weekly through May 2025. You won't want to miss these dynamic presenters & panels!  

Speaker Team
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Summit Schedule
Summit Schedule

Tuesday, July 29, 2025
2:00 pm to 2:15 pm | Welcome to the Summit
2:15 pm to 3:15 pm | Session #1
3:20 pm to 4:20 pm | Session #2
4:20 pm to 4:40 pm | Networking Break
4:40 pm to 5:10 pm | Featured Vendor #1
5:15 pm to 6:15 pm | Session #3
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | Welcome Reception
7:30 pm to  ??? pm | Dinner on your own


Wednesday, July 30, 2025
8:30 am to 8:45 am | Welcome to the Summit
8:45 am to 9:15 am | Welcome to Canyon, Texas
9:15 am to 10:15 am | Session #4
10:15 am to 10:30 am | Networking Break
10:30 am to 11:30 am | Session #5
11:30 am to 12:00 pm | Jim Walton Community Impact Award
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | Networking Luncheon
1:00 pm to 1:15 pm | Texas Bingo for Charity
1:15 pm to 2:15 pm | Session #6
2:15 pm to 2:45 pm | Featured Vendor #2
2:45 pm to 3:00 pm | Networking Break
3:00 pm to 3:45 pm | Session #7
3:45 pm to 4:00 pm | Exhibitor Introductions
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Session #8
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm | Enjoy Downtown Canyon on your own
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | Summit Celebration (meal, fun & live music)


Thursday, July 31, 2025
8:30 am to 8:45 am | Welcome to Texas
8:45 am to 9:00 am | Featured Documentary
9:00 am to 10:00 am | Session #9
10:00 am to 10:15 am | Networking Break
10:15 am to 10:30 am | Special Acknowledgements & Announcements
10:30 am to 11:30 am | Session #10 
11:30 am to 12:00 pm | Session # 11 and Closing Remarks 

 
2025 Sponsorships

2025 Summit Sponsorships

Sponsorships for the 2025 Stand Up Rural America Summit are available for interested Vendors, Associations, State & Federal Agencies, Lenders, Utilities and supporters of Rural America. 

 

Sponsorship opportunities, offered at many levels, will help provide you with the perfect formula of exposure, promotion, advertising, branding and networking benefits to meet your budgets and your objectives. 

A Summary of 2025 Summit Sponsorships available are: 

     SOLD Presenting Sponsor  (exclusive) | $10,000

     Platinum Sponsor | $5,000

     Hospitality Event Sponsor (exclusive) | $5,000

     Digital App Sponsor (exclusive) | $4,000

     Gold Sponsor |  $3,000

     SOLD Featured Vendor Sponsor (2 available) | $3,000 each

     Summit Journal Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,500 

     Summit Luncheon Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,500 

     SOLD Welcome Reception Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,000

     Summit Networking Break Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,000

     SOLD Summit Attendee Bag Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,000

     Community Sponsor | $1,500 

     Silver Sponsor/Exhibitor Package | $1,500

     SOLD Lanyard Sponsor (exclusive) | $1,000

     Bronze Sponsorship | $750

Click the button below for the 2025 Sponsorship Package, Exhibitor Details and Sponsorship Commitment Instructions. Please send all inquiries and forms to lorie@accelerationbydesign.com.  Sponsorship payments are accepted online on the Registration page or by invoice upon request. All exclusive sponsorships are available until sold. Deadline for inclusion on all Summit printed materials and signage is July 15, 2025.

 

 

 

Thank You 2025 Summit Sponsors

 

Summit Hosts

Canyon Economic Development Corporation

Presenting Sponsor

The High Ground of Texas

Platinum Sponsors

ACCELERATION by design LLC

Gold Sponsors

 American Hat Company | Lindale Economic Development Corporation

Silver Sponsors

Day One Experts | Sumner County Economic Development 

Full Strut Media

Featured Vendor Sponsors

Marketing Alliance

Tuesday's Welcome Reception Sponsor

Big Lake Economic Development Corporation

 

Forum Bag Sponsor

Bowie Economic Development Corporation

 

Forum Lanyard Sponsor

Opportunity Strategies LLC

Brown Tiles

Housing & Travel Options

We will not be blocking one particular hotel brand for our Summit as there are many options available. Hotels in Canyon include the Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western and Buffalo Inn.  Within 15 miles north to Amarillo, there are additional options with easy access to Canyon. There are also Airbnb, VRBO and RV options in the area, some with special access to Palo Duro Canyon. There are diverse options and you will have great choices available for you, based on your preference and budget.  

If you plan to fly, you will want to fly into the Amarillo International Airport. Several rental cars agencies are available. 

Extra tickets are available for purchase for the Wednesday evening Celebrating Rural America Party. Each Summit registration includes one ticket and additional tickets are available in the registration portal for your guests.  Everyone is welcome to attend the Welcome Reception on Tuesday evening at no charge, however, in order to gather numbers for logistics, we will ask for attendance plans prior to the Summit.

We will also be providing a great afternoon and evening of OPTIONAL activities on Thursday, January 31st, including guided tours of some famous Canyon and Amarillo iconic tourist stops, plus the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, BBQ dinner and viewing of the play TEXAS, held in the beautiful outdoor theater in the base of Palo Dura Canyon. Transportation will be provided. You can purchase tickets to this add-on event through the registration process. 
 
To learn more about all of the fabulous things to do near and around Canyon, Texas, please CLICK HERE!  We encourage you to enjoy a family trip at this fantastic destination and attend the Summit in between your vacation activities. 
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Travel Information
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Awards
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2025 Regional Forum
2025 Summit Charity
Thank You Tulsa, OK
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Thank you Sumner County, KS
Thank You Charleston, WV
Thank You French Lick, Indiana

Thank you Northeast Iowa

Thank You Somerset, KY

Thank You Laurel, Mississippi

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