Partnerships are central to economic development, but they are not always clearly defined, intentionally managed, or meaningfully measured. 

Join IEDC for a live Journal-to-Practice conversation based on the Economic Development Journal article, Partnerships Matter: An Exploratory Study to Better Understand and Measure Partnerships in Economic Development. This session will bring the research to life through expert insight, practitioner examples, and discussion of the questions economic developers are facing in their own communities. 

Participants will explore how partnerships develop over time, what distinguishes genuine collaboration from routine coordination, and how trust, shared purpose, accountability, and measurement shape long-term success. 

Participants will also receive a strategic brief and a practical one-page guide to support future partnership conversations and decisions. 

This session is designed for experienced economic development professionals who want to examine partnership work more intentionally and move beyond counting activity toward understanding value, health, and impact. 

Registration deadline: September 15, 2026.
Member price: Free
Non-member price: $99

Register