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Is your county or region experiencing economic challenges due to the contraction of the coal industry? Are you seeking effective approaches to support economic diversification, workforce development and improved quality of life in your community?

Join the National Association of Counties and the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation in Campbell County/Gillette, Wyo. October 8–9, 2018 for Strengthening Economies in Wyoming, a free forum designed for coal-reliant counties and regions across Wyoming. This convening will bring together stakeholders from the public and private sectors for an educational and interactive gathering to share best practices, lessons learned and new opportunities to support economic diversification. Prepare for a mix of interactive sessions and small group discussions and mobile tours designed to deepen and foster new partnerships aimed at promoting innovation and prosperity throughout Wyoming and the West.

The forum will offer ample opportunity to network with your peers, state and federal officials and other practitioners who are promoting economic and community development at the local, regional and state levels. All interested community stakeholders from Wyoming are welcome to attend, including: county and other local officials; regional development organization staff; workforce development professionals; non-profit and philanthropic leaders; business owners; and representatives from K-12 and higher education institutions.

This forum is funded through the support of the U.S. Economic Development Administration – Denver Regional Office, as part of NACo and NADO RF's larger four-state initiative: Strengthening Economies in the West, which provides tailored economic diversification support and technical assistance for coal-reliant counties and regions in Colorado, Montana, Utah & Wyoming. Through this regional initiative, state-specific forums were held in Utah in October 2017 and Montana in April 2018. A Colorado-based forum is also upcoming in September 2018. This initiative kicked off in April of 2017 with an initial region-wide educational forum in Denver.

While this forum is encouraged for Wyoming communities economically linked to the coal industry and forum content will focus on strategies and opportunities unique to Wyoming, attendance is open to all interested coal-impacted communities across the Western region.