On Monday, June 24, 2024, IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle was the distinguished guest speaker at the State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network meeting at the 10th annual SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Maryland. SEDE is a forum for state economic development and commerce agency CEOs, executive directors, commissioners and their deputies to exchange information, learn from one another, and advance the practice and impact of economic development across the United States. During the meeting, Nathan delivered a presentation on IEDC’s strategic plan and the organization’s inaugural Economic Recovery Corps (ERC). Following the presentation, Nathan participated in a roundtable discussion with SEDE members on the current, Federal policy environment and IEDC’s legislative advocacy priorities. Following the day’s events, Nathan engaged in meetings with Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Kirsten Hillman, at the SelectUSA Canada reception and the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency, Dame Karen Peirce, at the British Embassy’s SelectUSA reception. Nathan also met with Colorado Governor Jared Polis at the British Embassy. Both Canada and the United Kingdom are top investors in the United States. Canadian and British companies’ investments in the USA account for over 2 million high-paying jobs in IEDC members’ communities across the country.

The following day, Nathan gave a presentation on IEDC’s strategic plan, including the organization’s Global Partnership priorities, at the summit’s Exhibitors Hall. The US-Qatar economic partnership is valued over $200 billion USD, with robust investments in US real estate, technology companies, financial services, among other asset classes.

SelectUSA, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, hosts the SelectUSA Investment Summit to convene international companies and economic development representatives in one place annually. The summit is the highest-profile event in the United States dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment (FDI). The 10^th SelectUSA Investment Summit at the National Harbor, Maryland was held June 23 - 26, 2024.