Springfield to host 2011 economic development conference

The annual Governor's Conference on Economic Development is returning to Springfield in 2011, the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau announced Monday morning.

The conference, which rotates between various cities each year, will bring roughly 800 people to the Ozarks for a series of discussions and seminars on training opportunities, communication, work-force development and government programs for businesses, according to a CVB news release.  

The 2011 conference is set for Sept. 20–23, 2011 at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center. The 2010 conference will be hosted in Kansas City.

“Special thanks to the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau for working to attract this major conference,” said Greg Williams, senior vice president of economic development at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, in the release. “Economic development practitioners and work force development professionals across the state of Missouri enjoy traveling to our community and we’ll ensure their time here in 2011 will be positive from both a hospitality perspective and a professional development experience.”

The conference previously was in Springfield in 2007.