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2026 OEDA Annual Summit

October 6–9, 2026 | Dayton, Ohio

Join Ohio's economic development community October 6–9 in Dayton for the 2026 OEDA Annual Summit. Four days of sessions, networking, tours, and professional development across six tracks.

EVENT REGISTRATION: Registration Opening Soon. Check back at this page for more info to come.

30+ Action-focused sessions across sites, infrastructure, workforce, finance, technology, and leadership in Dayton's brand-new Convention Center

Keynotes featuring GE Aerospace, JobsOhio, and Ohio's top defense sector leaders

Make meaningful connections with other economic development practitioners through networking, learning labs, and social events

CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS (through May 25)

We're accepting session proposals for the 2026 Summit.

Share your expertise, showcase innovative projects, or highlight best practices in economic development.

Submit a Proposal HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026summitproposals#main-content-526754449)__

Deadline: May 25, 2026

Questions: Amy Sealts, Content Chair — amy@putnamcountycic.com

SESSION TRACKS

  • Track 1: Sites, Infrastructure & Energy
  • Track 2: Workforce, Housing & Community Competitiveness
  • Track 3: Finance, Incentives & Deal Strategy
  • Track 4: Technology, Innovation & AI
  • Track 5: Leadership, Partnerships & Community Engagement Track 6: Wildcard

Sessions span introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. Full session schedule will be published as speakers are confirmed.

 

LEARNING LABS: Learning Labs offer hands-on professional development through guided community tours in the Dayton region. Details and tour options will be announced as confirmed.

THE SCHEDULE

bold = regular conference programming, regular weight = optional/social events

*Note: schedule still open to change*

Day 1 | Tuesday, October 6, 2026

  • All day, OEDA Governance Meetings (1:00 - 4:00 p.m., closed)
  • 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. - 2nd Annual Golf Scramble | Springfield Country Club
  • 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - 2nd Annual Community Service Project | Location TBD
  • 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Early Registration | Dayton Convention Center
  • 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. - 3rd Annual Early Arrivals Reception | hosted by I-70/75 Development Association | America's Packard Museum

Day 2 | Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Dayton Convention Center — 22 E 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402

  • 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - Registration & Breakfast
  • 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. - Welcome Ceremony
  • 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. - General Session: GE Aerospace | Speaker TBA
  • 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. - General Session: JobsOhio | Speaker TBA
  • 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. - General Session: Airspace & Defense Panel | Panelists TBA
  • 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. - Keynote Luncheon: Navigating Community Opposition to Development | sponsored by Norfolk Southern
  • 2:00 - 4:45 p.m. - Learning Labs (Community Tours) | Five guided professional development tours across the Dayton region
  • 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Buckeyes & Bourbon Happy Hour | sponsored by Findlay-Hancock ED | Dayton Convention Center
  • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - 3rd Annual OEDA Reunion | Carillon Park
  • 9:00 p.m. - Late Night Trivia | hosted by Horton Hobbs | Dayton Convention Center

Day 3 | Thursday, October 8, 2026

Dayton Convention Center

  • 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - Registration & Breakfast
  • 8:00 - 8:45 a.m. - Welcome Ceremony
  • 10:00 - 4:45 p.m. - Breakout Sessions across Six Tracks | Sites, Infrastructure & Energy · Workforce, Housing & Community Competitiveness · Finance, Incentives & Deal Strategy · Technology, Innovation & AI · Leadership, Partnerships & Community Engagement · Wildcard
  • 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. - OEDA Awards Luncheon | sponsored by Bricker Graydon Wyatt
  • 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - 3rd Annual Women in ED Reception | sponsored by Lathrop Turner | Dayton Convention Center
  • 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. - IEDC Centennial Reception | Dayton Arcade Rotunda
  • 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. - Dinner on the Town (regional groups, sponsors)
  • 8:00 p.m. - After Hours with Terracon | Pins Mechanical

Day 4 | Friday, October 9, 2026

Dayton Convention Center

  • 6:00 - 7:00 a.m. - 3rd Annual OEDA Fun Run
  • 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - Registration & Breakfast
  • 8:00 - 8:45 a.m. - Legislative Session | Jeffry Harris, Bricker Graydon Wyatt
  • 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Ignite Session: Business Retention & Expansion
  • 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. - OEDA Annual Meeting
  • 11:30 a.m. - Conference Wrap-Up | Safe Travels

SPONSORS

Agracel • Bricker Graydon Wyatt • Bruns Construction Enterprises • Choice One Engineering • DDC • Exxcel Project Management • Findlay-Hancock ED • HDR • Huntington National Bank • I-70/75 Development Association • Lathrop Turner • Mannik Smith • Miller Valentine • Neighborhood Strategies • Norfolk Southern • Rudolph Libbe • Terracon • The Columbus Region

We are grateful to all our sponsors for their commitment and dedication to Ohio's economic development practitioners.

Interested in sponsorship? Contact Jason Kester — jkester@agracel.com

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THE VENUE

The brand-new Dayton Convention Center sits at the center of a revitalized downtown, making it one of the first major events to call this state-of-the-art facility home. With flexible meeting spaces, modern amenities, and a walkable location surrounded by restaurants, breweries, and hotels within blocks, the DCC offers everything a multi-day conference demands. Connected directly to the Vitality Hotel and steps from the Dayton Arcade, Carillon Park, and America's Packard Museum, it puts attendees at the heart of one of Ohio's most compelling economic development stories — a city that's building its next chapter in real time.

WHERE YOU'LL STAY

Dayton is one of Ohio's most dynamic economic development stories — and the perfect backdrop for this year's Summit. The brand-new Dayton Convention Center anchors a walkable downtown packed with restaurants, breweries, and entertainment within blocks of every conference hotel. From the historic Dayton Arcade to Carillon Park's world-class innovation exhibits, the city offers a firsthand look at what community-driven revitalization looks like in practice. Whether you're catching up with colleagues over dinner on the town or exploring between sessions, Dayton delivers.

For more information on Dayton, check out Destination Dayton: https://www.destinationdayton.org/

HOTEL INFORMATION

Book your hotel today! We have multiple room blocks at local hotels, the deadline for booking being: September 5 (*though we can't guarantee they won't sell out before then).

Hotel Ardent

  • $149 (king) / $159 (two queens)
  • Reference OEDA room block

Hilton Garden Inn

  • $169 (king or two queens)
  • Call 937.343.1050
  • Reference OEDA room block

Fairfield Inn & Suites

  • $179 (king or two queens)
  • Call 937.331.9330
  • Reference OEDA room block

Vitality Hotel

  • Connected to Dayton Convention Center
  • Details coming soon

AC Marriott Downtown Dayton

  •  Details coming soon

CONTACT

  • Session Proposals: Amy Sealts — amy@putnamcountycic.com / 419.523.5595
  • Event Logistics: Lindsay Rossi West — lrossiwest@ohioeda.com / 419.775.6462
  • Sponsorships: Jason Kester — jkester@agracel.com