CONNECT Conference 2019

BUS TOUR REGISTRATION CLOSED.  Filled to capacity!
You may still register for conference.
Join more than 200 local and regional business leaders, Chamber members, elected officials and economic development professionals for discussion, news and predictions about Garner's economic prospects.

The CONNECT Conference, is a half-day economic development conference presented by the Garner Chamber of Commerce with the Town of Garner.

Bonus bus tour includes a look at bond projects, recently acquired parkland and some of Garner’s future residential development. Meet at 10:00 am at the Grand Marquise Ballroom.

Register by August 9.  Please make all necessary edits and cancellations to registration prior to August 9.  We are unable to provide refunds after August 9.

Sessions:

Retail Realities: How to Make Sense of Big-Dollar Decisions
What are the underlying patterns in how people spend their money? And how do big retailers determine where to establish new locations? Take a deep dive into the world of retail and learn what shapes our local economy and built environment.
 
Welcome to OZ: There's No Place Like Our Hometown
We might not have a Yellow Brick Road, but with a couple of newly designated opportunity zones and the tax relief available within them, investors won't need magic slippers to find their path to riches in Garner. We'll give you a look behind the curtain so you'll be in the know.

 
Chamber OZ Case Study: If You Build It, They Will Come.  "Downtown South"
$1.9B private investment in Southeast Raleigh is a "game-changer." It's called "Downtown South," an entertainment district on 55 acres at downtown Raleigh's southern edge near Garner. John Kane (Kane Realty), Billie Redmond (Trademark Properties) and Steve Malik (North Carolina Football Club), those behind this ambitious project, will be featured at the conference.

 
Get on the Bus:  A New Transit Option is Heading Our Way
Bus rapid transit (BRT) is on the horizon, and it will not only move people along the corridor between Garner and downtown Raleigh but will also open up new economic development opportunities in our town. We'll map it all out for you in this session.