hosted in partnership with
Registration is $129 per person
Group Rate is $516 | Purchase four registrations, get one free!
You are invited to the Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum in Shawnee, Oklahoma
COME JOIN US!
I’d like to personally invite you to this national Rural Economic Development Regional Forum taking place April 15 & 16, 2026. Our exciting host city for this dynamic event is Prattville, Alabama. The event will be held at the Central Alabama Community College and other special locations around the area promoted for pre-Forum Tours and Visits. This 2026 Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum will feature nationally renowned subject matter experts and successful economic development practitioners along with special Best Practices Panels.
Topics covered include planning, leadership, entrepreneurship, downtown revitalization, rural tourism, sustainability, business retention & expansion, technology tools, effective communications, rural retail development, talent development, proven strategies and much more. 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 innovative 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, French Lick IN, Canyon TX, Gonzales TX and Shawnee OK, while garnering high praise for the superior level of speakers, quality content and excellent networking opportunities.
This Forum 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 RurAL Alabama for graciously serving as the host of the Forum, along with many Regional Partners. We are thrilled to be working with this awesome team representing this unique and exciting region!
This Forum is perfect for Economic Development Organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Cities, Counties, Downtown and Main Street Organizations, 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.
Forum sponsorships are available and we will host an exciting exhibit area. Registration for the Forum is open! 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 Forum.
You won't want to miss this special Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum. Please join us April 15 & 16, 2026 in beautiful Prattville, Alabama to celebrate Rural America!
Let's Go! See you there!
Lorie Vincent
Lorie Vincent, CEcD
Founder | President
ACCELERATION by design LLC
Watch for the Announcement of our Dynamic Speaker Slate on Thursday, March 12, 2026
Forum Sponsorships
Your generous sponsorship support allows us to provide a high level slate of nationally renowned speakers, in a beautiful and productive environment, at a cost that is affordable to our rural participants. We offer many sponsorship levels, with an abundance of benefits. If you do not find an opportunity that fits your objectives, please reach out and let's discuss a solution! We also offer a vibrant location for vendors and exhibitors at the Forum. Sponsorships and Vendor Tables can be secured online through the registration portal, you can request an online invoice to pay with a credit card or we can send you an invoice. We are happy to accommodate your payment system.
FORUM HOST | RurAL Alabama
PRESENTING SPONSOR | $5,000 (Exclusive)
TITLE SPONSOR | $4,000 (Exclusive)
LUNCHEON SPONSOR | $4,000 (Exclusive)
HOSPITALITY/REFRESHMENT SPONSOR | $3,000 (Exclusive)
FORUM BAG SPONSOR | $1,500 (Exclusive)
PLATINUM SPONSOR | $2,000
GOLD SPONSORS | $1,500
SILVER SPONSORS | $750
BRONZE SPONSORS | $500
FORUM VENDOR/EXHIBITORS | $300
Hotel & Travel Information
If you are traveling to the Prattville area by air, the Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) in Montgomery, Alabama is your closest airport. The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) in Birmingham, Alabama is approximately 85 miles from Prattville. Multiple options for rental cars are available. There are an array of hotel options in Prattville, therefore, we are not utilizing any one hotel and allowing our guests to choose their preference.