Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

July 10, 2008 issue

Leadership Summit on the Creative Economy August 11


The Appalachian Regional Development Institute at Appalachian State University announces its 8th Annual ARDI Leadership Summit, Accelerating Our Economy: Tapping Creative Assets. The conference will be held at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 11, and is open to everyone interested in learning about the creative economy and its influence on economic growth. The summit agenda and registration information are online at www.ardisummit.com. The conference fee is $65.

The summit will focus attention on emerging sectors in North Carolina’s economy and show their interconnection and relationship to a larger strategic movement called the creative economy. People often think of artists when they hear the word “creative”; however, the creative economy includes more than art; it includes architects, designers, engineers, farmers, hoteliers, entertainers, storytellers, builders, construction workers and umpteen others who emphasize the aesthetic, intellectual and emotional aspects of their product or service, and their customers place a high value on these contributions. These people, their companies and their ideas are critical to our communities, and they are becoming more relevant to economic development initiatives throughout North Carolina, especially western North Carolina.

Panelists will represent new sectors in viticulture, agriculture and farmland preservation, recreation and natural resources, music and film, construction and design, and financing the creative economy.

North Carolina School of the Arts Chancellor John Mauceri will be the luncheon keynote speaker. Dr. David McGranahan, senior economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Resource and Rural Economics Division, will open the summit with a national overview.

Summit sponsors include Appalachian Regional Development Institute, Appalachian State University, AdvantageWest, BioNetwork BioBusiness Center, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp., Future Forward Economic Alliance, the High Country Council of Governments, Skyline Membership Corp., and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments.

For more information about the summit, contact Chilton Rogers at rogersc@appstate.edu or 828-262-6662.

Want To Go?

Date: Monday, August 11
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: Broyhill Inn and Conference Center
Cost: $65