Stand Up
RURAL
AMERICA
2021
FORGING A NEW PATH
THANK YOU TO OUR HOST COMMITTEE
You are Invited to the 2021 Stand Up Rural America Summit
SAVE THE DATES!
I’d like to personally invite you to this national Rural Economic Development Summit taking place April 27-29, 2021, in Charleston, West Virginia. The event, Stand Up Rural America-Forging a New Path, will feature more than 20 nationally renowned subject matter experts and successful economic development practitioners. This Summit is rescheduled from the originally planned July 2020 event.
Topics to be covered include planning, leadership, entrepreneurship, downtown revitalization, marketing, regionalism, business retention & expansion, effective communications, rural retail, housing, rural broadband, talent development and much more. Additional content regarding preparedness, strategies for helping our communities rebound, rebuild and restore our communities following the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis will also be included.
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. Representatives from more than 20 states enjoyed our inaugural event in Tulsa, OK in July of 2019 while garnering high praise for the superior level of speakers, quality content and excellent networking opportunities.
The Summit is being coordinated and hosted by ACCELERATION by design LLC. It has been my privilege to work with more than 250 rural communities and regions throughout my 29+ year economic development career.
This Summit is perfect for Economic Development Organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Cities, Counties, Regional Groups, Utilities, Industry Leaders, Lenders, Board Members and anyone with a vested interest in the growth and prosperity of Rural America.
My sincere appreciation to the WVEDC for serving as the head of the Summit Host Committee. Summit sponsorships are available and we will host an exciting exhibit area. Registration for the Summit is open. Out of respect for the difficulties all of our rural communities have faced throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we are extending the discounted registration rate until April 25, 2021 and a special group registration rate for five or more participants from one organization. We recognize your travel and budget challenges and want to do what we can to help you participate in the Summit. Please know that the health and safety of our participants are our priority and all necessary precautions and protocols will be aggressively administered at each venue and every session.
You won't want to miss this special event. Please join me in West Virginia to celebrate Rural America in April 2021.
See you there!
Lorie Vincent
Lorie Vincent, CEcD
Founder | President
ACCELERATION by design LLC
Announcing our exciting Summit Presentation Team...
Deno Paolini
Defining the Way Leadership Co. | Leadership Trainer | Corporate Facilitator | Coach
Garry Clark
Greater Fremont Development Council | President & CEO | Author | TedX Speaker
Deb Brown
SaveYour.Town | Small Town Specialist
Rick Rhodes
Texas Rural Funders | Rural Engagement Coordinator
Colleen Walton
Brand Acceleration | Brand Coach
Chuck Branch
NextSite | CEO
Tom Wengler
OctoUX | Certified HubSpot Partner | CRM Expert
Brad Thomas
Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives | Economic Development Specialist
Josh Nowell
Downtown Comeback | HGTV Home Town Cast | Co-Owner Laurel Mercantile
Mallorie Raspberry
Downtown Comeback | HGTV Home Town Cast | Co-Owner Laurel Mercantile
Jim Rasberry
Downtown Comeback | HGTV Home Town Cast | Co-Owner Laurel Mercantile
Dave Quinn
Day One Experts | Managing Partner | The Solutionist Mastermind Group
Lorie Vincent
ACCELERATION by design LLC | President | Author | Humorist
Gerri Lawing
Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperatives, Inc. | Economic Development Director
Drew Myers
Defining Audacity Radio Show & Podcast | Radio Personality | Writer
and more...
Summit Schedule
TUESDAY | APRIL 27 | 2021
1:00 pm | 7:00 pm Summit Registration in Exhibit Hall
3:00 pm | 6:00 pm Pre-Summit Workshop | Deno Paolini | Managers React to Change...Leaders Create Change. Which one are you?
6:00 pm | 7:30 pm Welcome Reception in Exhibit Hall
7:00 pm | 9:00 pm Dinner with your friends in Downtown Charleston
9:00 pm |10:00 pm After Dinner Meet Up at Adelphia Sports Bar & Grill
WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021
7:00 am | 9:00 am Summit Registration in Exhibit Hall
8:00 am | 5:15 pm Refreshments & Networking in Exhibit Hall
8:30 am | 8:45 am Welcome to the Summit
8:45 am | 9:45 am Garry Clark | Your Rural Story, American Glory
9:45 am | 10:00 am Message of Hope | RECOVERY
10:00 am | 10:15 am Networking Break
10:15 am | 11:15 pm Deb Brown | Changing our Rural Towns One Empty Building
at a time
11:15 am | 12:00 pm Dave Quinn | Dancing Concrete
12:00 pm | 1:00 pm Networking Luncheon
1:15 pm | 2:15 pm Rick Rhodes | True Collaboration: Public/Private Partnerships for
the Win
2:15 pm | 2:30 pm Message of Hope | REBOUND
2:30 pm | 2:45 pm Networking Break
2:45 pm | 3:45 pm Colleen Walton | Marketing on a Budget
3:45 pm | 4:00 pm Networking Break
4:00 pm | 5:00 pm Brad Thomas | Kentucky Fried Economic Development
5:00 pm | 6:00 pm Josh Nowell | Mallorie Raspberry | Jim Raspberry
The Downtown Comeback
7:00 pm | 10:00 pm Celebrating Rural America | Hospitality & Dinner | JQ Dickinson
Salt Works
(1 ticket included in each registration. Extra tickets available)
THURSDAY | APRIL 29 | 2021
8:00 am | 12:30 pm Refreshments & Networking in Exhibit Area
8:00 am | 8:30 am Case Study: Finding What Makes Your Community Unique
8:30 am | 9:30 am Chuck Branch | Tom Wengler | Data & Technology Is Your Friend
9:30 am | 9:45 am Message of Hope | RESILIENCE
9:45 am | 10:00 am Take Me Home Country Roads | Meet West Virginia
10:00 am | 10:15 am Networking Break
10:15 am | 11:15 am Lorie Vincent | Regionalism is for Real
11:15 am | 11:30 am The Rural Comeback | Your Stories...Your Victories
11:30 am | 12:30 pm Networking Luncheon
12:30 pm | 12:45 pm Message of Hope | REBUILD
12:45 pm | 1:45 pm Gerri Lawing | Brad Thomas | Lorie Vincent
The Secret Sauce of Vibrant Rural Communities
1:45 pm | 2:45 pm Drew Myers | The Power of Story
2:45 pm | 3:00 pm Summit Wrap Up & Adjournment
Sponsorships
Thank you Summit Sponsors
Summit Hosts
West Virginia Economic Development Council | ACCELERATION by design LLC
Presenting Sponsors
Appalachian Power | Charleston WV CVB
Platinum Sponsors
Enterprise Florida | SC Power Team
Gold Sponsors
Brand Acceleration | Day One Experts | GDS Associates
Silver Sponsors
DrewMyers.Life | Flyer View Group | Marshall University | Murray State University
National Rural Economic Development Association | SizeUp
Media Sponsor
Site Selector Magazine
Community Sponsor
Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corporation
Bronze Sponsors
GVEC | Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce
Hospitality Sponsor
Charleston WV CVB
Summit Bag Sponsor
Bowie Economic Development Corporation
Summit Lanyard Sponsor
Opportunity Strategies LLC
Sponsorships for the 2021 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 Sponsorships available are:
Presenting Sponsor | $7,500
Platinum Sponsor | $5,000
Gold Sponsor | $3,000
Community Sponsor | $1,500
Silver Sponsor & Exhibitor Package | $1,250
Bronze Sponsor | $750
Special Hospitality Event Sponsor (exclusive) | $3,000 SOLD!
Summit Journal Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,500
Pre-Summit Workshop Sponsor (exclusive) | $2,000
Opening Reception (exclusive) | $1,500
Summit Attendee Bags (exclusive) | $1,500 SOLD!
Summit Lanyard (exclusive) | $750 SOLD!
Please click the button below for the Sponsorship Package, Exhibitor Details and Sponsorship Commitment Form. Please send all inquiries and forms to . Sponsorship payment accepted online on the Registration page or by invoice upon request.
The Venue
April 27-29 | Charleston, West Virginia
The Summit will be held at the Embassy Suites in Charleston, West Virginia. Click the button below for the direct link to our room block. We have secured a special rate of $149.00 per night. Enjoy the hotel's newly renovated two room suites, famous cooked to order breakfast and proximity to nearby attractions. Make your reservation now before the room block fills up. Come early or stay late and enjoy all the amenities beautiful West Virginia has to offer!
Click here for the Charleston WV CVB
Click here for Visit West Virginia
Embassy Suites Hotel
300 Court Street
Charleston, West Virginia
304.347.8700
Room Block Code: RAS
ROOM BLOCK CODE: RAS
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