Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CSG Media Relations
The Council of State Governments
(859) 244-8246
March 31. 2011
CSG to Launch Its First Virtual Summit
LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Council of State Governments’ first Virtual Summit of the States 2.0—scheduled for April 11-14--will focus on the two issues most important to legislators across the country: jobs and the economy.
State leaders have a more pressing need than ever to share ideas about how to steer their states through the rough economic rocks ahead. But while they need ideas, legislators are in no position to be able to leave their capitols and go to an in-person meeting.
“The answer was obvious,” said David Adkins, CSG’s executive director. “Technology makes it possible for us to deliver cutting-edge content directly to our members. Our national chair, Connecticut Deputy Speaker Bob Godfrey, embraced the idea and directed us to do everything we could to package our summit online. He knew that by putting the needs of state leaders first, CSG would better accomplish our mission of sharing capitol ideas.”
Economist and author Zachary Karabell will speak during the opening session at 1:30 p.m. EDT April 11. His session will focus on state budgets and give a general economic overview. Karabell is president of River Twice Research, where he analyzes economic and political trends. He recently authored a piece for Time magazine titled, “Where the Jobs Aren’t: Grappling with Structural Unemployment.”
Other session will focus on innovative strategies states are using to foster job growth. Sessions include:
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Winning Strategies for Job Creation & Business Attraction, 1 p.m. April 12: Although economic development strategies used to consist primarily of tax breaks, the times are changing. Learn what new strategies policymakers are trying to convince businesses to locate in their state.
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Creating a Culture of Entrepreneurship, 3 p.m. April 12: Learn about the new trends impacting how states are creating vital entrepreneurial networks in their states.
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Increasing Global Competitiveness through Collaborative Education and Workforce Development Efforts, 1 p.m. April 13: Explore how states are changing education to ensure businesses will have the highly competent workforce they need to succeed. Sara Watson of the Pew Center on the States will speak.
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Encouraging American Innovation & Competing in a Global Economy–Health Care, 3 p.m. April 13: Learn how state policies can not only help improve the economic outlook for the health care sector, but also help draw more health-related businesses to your state. Christine Grygon of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Chad Cornell of Medtronic Business Development will speak.
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Challenges to State Revenue Structures & Responses to Revenue Reductions, 1 p.m. April 14: Discover how states are restructuring their tax codes and finding new ways to generate revenue to deal with budget shortfalls. Richard D. Pomp of the University of Connecticut and Sen. Daniel DaPonte, chairman of the Committee on Finance for the Rhode Island Senate, will speak.
To learn more about CSG’s Virtual Summit of the States, visit the summit’s home page. To register for the free event, visit the summit’s registration page.
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The Council of State Governments is our nation’s only organization serving all three branches of state government. CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. This offers unparalleled regional, national and international opportunities to network, develop leaders, collaborate and create problem-solving partnerships.