Sessions are subject to change.

Thursday, November 14

7:45-9:00 a.m.
Registration and Light Breakfast

9:00 a.m.
Welcome
Bill Longley, General Counsel, Texas Municipal League

9:05-9:50 a.m.
Expanding Economic Prosperity in Texas Communities
Terry Zrubek, Deputy Executive Director of Texas Economic Development & Tourism in the Office of the Governor, will discuss how their office works with city and other local leaders to expand economic growth and job creation in rural, suburban, and metro communities across Texas.
Terry Zrubek,
Deputy Executive Director, Texas Economic Development & Tourism

9:55-10:40 a.m.
Planning for Your City’s Economic Development
In this session, TML legal counsel will provide an overview of the basic legal requirements relating to the economic development tools that are available to Texas cities, and how those tools may be used to strengthen local economies.
Amber McKeon-Mueller
, Assistant Director of Legal Services, Texas Municipal League

10:40-10:50 a.m.
Stretch Break

10:50-11:50 a.m.
Type A and Type B Economic Development Corporations and City Councils
A discussion of Type A and Type B economic development corporations, permissible expenditures and the relationship between City Council’s and the Corporations.  This will include a discussion of permissible projects, process and procedures of EDCs, general authority EDCs, and the legal and practical relationship between EDCs and City Councils.
Charles Zech, Partner, Denton Navarro Rodriguez Bernal Santee & Zech, P.C.

11:50 a.m.-12:55 p.m.
Networking Lunch (lunch is included in your registration fee)

1:00-2:00 p.m.
What Communities Need to Know Before Opportunity Knocks:  The Zero Moment of Truth for Economic Development
In 2011, Jim Lecinski, while working at Google, coined a phrase: Zero Moment of Truth. Lecinski described how, even then, many major shopping decisions were made online, rather than in person.  In this session, you will learn how communities can apply the same Zero Moment of Truth (ZMOT) concepts to economic development and prepare for the first (or next) big prospect by following ZMOT principles.
Thomas A. Gwosdz, Attorney, The Gwosdz Law Firm, PLLC

2:05-3:05 p.m.
Beating Back Apathy and Building Civic Pride
Thousands of communities have been devastated by the effects of apathy and unless city leaders take action, the problem will get worse. Apathy destroys everything it touches and can’t be restored with planning or money. Citizens’ lack of care and concern can only be fixed by taking a new approach to rebuild the community’s relationship to their town. We can beat back the effects of apathy by fostering a sense of civic pride – bringing people together, restoring beauty, and giving our hometowns more meaning. By taking a small-scale, simple, and incremental approach, we can begin to replace apathy with pride. We simply must do our part, every resident, every day, taking part in making their city just a little bit better. When everyone participates, we can all have something truly special, a community we can be proud of. 
Jeff Siegler, Founder, Revitalize or Die

3:05-3:20 p.m.
Stretch Break

3:20-4:30 p.m.
2025 Legislative Outlook for Economic Development
TML legislative staff will discuss the issues that may be coming down the road in the 2025 Texas Legislative session that could impact economic development in Texas cities.
Bill Longley, General Counsel, and Monty Wynn, Director, Grassroots and Legislative Services, Texas Municipal League; Jesse Ancira, Founder and Principal, Ancira Strategies; and Eddie Solis, HillCo Partners

Friday, November 15

7:30-8:00 a.m.
Light Breakfast

8:00-8:55 a.m.
Creating Your City’s Future: Economic Development Strategic Planning
Does your city have a strategy for economic development? If not, you need one. Join Alysia Cook as she discusses the purpose, elements, construction, and implementation of an Economic Development Strategic Plan. This is for cities with an EDC, those with an in-house team, those with a public-private partnership, or no staff at all. This session will equip city managers and council members with the tools to build a blueprint for success by achieving city goals, taking care of local businesses, and creating opportunities for future generations.
Alysia Cook, Principal, Opportunity Strategies

9:00-10:00 a.m.
Understanding the Retail Recruitment and Site Selection Process
Aaron Farmer and Barry Haydon will share details on the best retail recruitment practices for municipalities and what site selectors are looking for when identifying which communities to locate in. 
Aaron Farmer, President, The Retail Coach, and Barry Haydon, Executive Vice President, JLL

10:00-10:15 a.m.
Stretch Break

10:15-11:45 a.m.
Texas Economic Development, Tourism, and the Arts
In this closing session, Scott Joslove, president and CEO of the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, will discuss how cities can legally use hotel tax and create Tourism Public Improvement Districts to promote tourism and strategically grow local property tax, sales, tax, and other city revenues. Chris Kiley, executive director of Texas for the Arts will present on the economic importance of arts and culture to communities, and strategies to fund downtown arts initiatives and development.
Scott Joslove, President and CEO, Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, and Chris Kiley, Executive Director, Texans for the Arts