2026 PDI Fall Conference
Flowing at the Speed of Change: Economic Development, AI, and Community Readiness
September 23-25, 2026 | Burlington, Iowa
Agenda
Wednesday, September 23th, 2026
Great River Casino Resort Convention & Event Center
3001 Winegard Dr, Burlington, IA 52601
List of Services
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10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | PDI Annual Golf OutingList Item 1
Spirit Hollows Golf Course
620 NE 66th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313
*Tee times will start at 10 a.m.
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1:00 - 5:00 p.m. | PDI Registration Desk OpensList Item 2
At the Great River Casino Resort Event Center
3001 Winegard Dr Ste 130, Burlington, IA 52601
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2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Building Stronger Communities Through Collaboration - Part 1List Item 3
Speaker: Chad Bird, City Manager
Location: General Session Room
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3:00- 4:20 | Building Stronger Communities Through Collaboration - Part 2
Speaker: Lee County & Burlington
Location: General Session Room
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4:20 - 4:30 p.m. | Break Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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4:30 - 5:00 p.m. | New Member/First Time AttendeesList Item 4
This session is optional.
Speakers:
Location: General Session Room
Join us for a warm welcome to the Professional Developers of Iowa! This special session is designed to help new members and first-time attendees get the most out of their experience with our organization. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your journey in development, this orientation will provide valuable insights and connections to enhance your participation and professional growth.
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5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception at The Lamp Post
Kick off the conference with a relaxed evening at The Lamp Post in the Great River Resort! Mingle with fellow attendees over delicious food, drinks, and great conversation in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're reconnecting with familiar faces or meeting new colleagues, this is the perfect way to start the week. Come hungry, come thirsty, and come ready to enjoy a fun night with our conference community.
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7:30 p.m. | Dinner on Your Own
This vibrant area is packed with incredible restaurants, so after Happy Hour, treat yourself to dinner at one of the many delicious spots nearby. It’s the perfect chance to explore and try something new while connecting with fellow attendees.
Thursday, September 24th, 2026
Great River Casino Resort Convention & Event Center
3001 Winegard Dr, Burlington, IA 52601
List of Services
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7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. | Exhibitor Set-Up
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7:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | PDI Registration Desk Open/Exhibits OpenList Item 1
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8 am | Breakfast Opens
Breakfast opens at 8 am. Annual meeting starts promptly at 8:30 am.
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8:30 - 9:15 a.m. | Welcome and Annual Meeting
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9:15 a.m. - 10:15 am | Downtown Development and Redevelopment in Today’s Market
Panelist: Jesse Caston, Michael Mohrfield, Amy Moyner, Ryan Nagrocki
A conversation about downtown revitalization, redevelopment realities, public-private partnerships, financing challenges, and what is working in smaller and midsized communities. This is highly relevant because current research shows that many smaller and midsized downtowns remain central assets, but are facing underutilized land, adaptive reuse challenges, and the need for stronger local partnerships. today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, successful community development hinges on the ability to unite diverse stakeholders around shared goals. This dynamic panel brings together seasoned economic developers to explore how communities are leveraging combined stakeholder models—integrating public, private, nonprofit, and grassroots voices—to drive sustainable growth, resilience, and innovation.
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10:15 - 10:30 a.m. | Networking & Exhibitor Break Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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10:30 - 11:45 a.m. | TIF, Urban Renewal, and Iowa’s Evolving Development
Speaker: Coming Soon
A legislative and policy update focused on TIF, urban renewal tools, and Iowa’s changing development framework, including how communities should think about project structuring and housing-related objectives. This topic is timely because Iowa’s 2026 property tax bill changed key urban renewal/TIF rules, including new limits on TIF duration and recognition of workforce housing as an economic development objective.
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11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch with PDI Legislative Update & Awards
Speaker: Nathan Overberg
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1:00 - 1:20 p.m. | Exhibitor Reception w/ Desserts Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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1:20 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. | How Is AI Disrupting Economic Development
Speaker: Coming Soon
A big-picture session on how AI is changing economic development work, reshaping business investment, influencing labor demand, and altering how communities compete. This is a strong keynote topic because AI adoption and AI-related infrastructure investment accelerated sharply in 2025–2026, while employers are using AI to improve productivity and, in some cases, delay hiring.
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2:20 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Networking/Exhibitor Break Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Breakout A: Reimagining Leadership, Mission, and Ecology
Speaker: Chris Lee, County Conservation Director
A session exploring how leadership models, nonprofit/501(c)(3) structures, and conservation-oriented strategies can intersect with economic development and community identity. The topic fits the growing emphasis on long-term place strategy, resilience, and community differentiation.
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2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Breakout B - Planning and Preparing for Disaster
Speaker: Dave Miller and Shalimar Mazetis
A breakout on preparedness, continuity, and how communities can integrate resilience planning into broader economic development strategy. This is a strong topic because federal resilience guidance now emphasizes aligning economic development, hazard mitigation, and recovery planning before disasters happen.This interactive workshop will provide an in-depth look into tourism marketing in Iowa: what is trending, what is working in both rural and metro communities, how data has changed the way tourism professionals think and act and how to maximize partnerships for gain rather than drain. It will also provide ideas for how rural communities, including those near metro areas, can benefit from the mega-draw of Iowa’s largest cities without losing their identity. Participants should bring a laptop to maximize this fast-paced workshop.
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2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Breakout C -AI for Economic Developers — Beyond Brainstorming
Speakers: Panel Coming Soon
Location: General Session Room
Join a panel of economic development professionals as they share how they are incorporating AI into their day-to-day work. Panelists will discuss practical applications, lessons learned, and real-world examples of using AI to draft communications, streamline research, improve reporting, enhance prospect outreach, and automate administrative tasks. The conversation will also explore how AI is influencing the future of economic development, workforce productivity, and organizational efficiency, providing attendees with ideas they can apply in their own communities.
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3:30 p.m. | Leave for Burlington Facility Tours
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4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Tour Option #1: Downtown Burlington
Learn about the recently updated infrastructure, commercial and residential development in Downtown Burlington.
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4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Tour Option #2: Rec Plex / Turf
Tour the two adjacent sports facilities, including a bubble
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4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Tour Option #3: Business Park
Tour of the Flint Ridge business park and discussion of recent progress.
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5:00 p.m. | Adjourn Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Evening Social at Uptown Garage
Thursday | Evening Drinks & Dinner | The Busted Cup
Join us for a lively evening of drinks, food, and networking. Enjoy a laid-back atmosphere with plenty of indoor and outdoor space to relax, connect with fellow attendees, and soak in the local charm. Whether you’re winding down the day or gearing up for more conference fun, this casual gathering is the perfect way to experience the community and enjoy great food and cold drinks,
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7:30 - 9:00 p.m. | Dinner on Your Own
Take a peek at the Burlington Activities and Restaurants tab to view all the great places to grab a bite for dinner!
Friday, September 25th, 2026
Great River Casino Resort Convention & Event Center
3001 Winegard Dr, Burlington, IA 52601
List of Services
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8:00 - 10:00 a.m. | PDI Registration Desk Opens & Exhibitor OpenList Item 2
Note: Breakfast opening at 8:00 a.m. and session promptly starting at 8:30 a.m.
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8:30 - 9:15 a.m. | Data Centers and Community Fit — Is This the Right Opportunity for Your CommunityList Item 3
Speaker: Coming Soon
A strategic session on how communities should evaluate data center opportunities, with particular attention to community fit, rural implications, infrastructure readiness, land use, water and energy demand, and long-term value. This is one of the hottest topics in economic development right now as AI-driven data center growth is accelerating, power is becoming the key site-selection variable, and communities are being asked to make increasingly complex decisions under time pressure
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9:15 - 10:00 a.m. | Childcare CentersList Item 4
Speaker: Coming Soon
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10:00 – 10:15 a.m. | Networking & Exhibitor Break Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
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10:15 - 11:00 a.m. | IEDA & BIG Update
Speakers: IEDA
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11:00 a.m | IEDA Executive Director Durham
Speaker: IEDA Executive Director Debi Durham
Join us for an engaging session with Executive Director Durham of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). This session will provide a detailed overview of the recent IEDA reorganization, focusing on how these changes will impact economic development across Iowa.
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12:00 p.m. | Adjourn
As we conclude the conference, join us for the unveiling of a new art piece that symbolizes the spirit of growth and innovation in our communities.
