Regional Collaboration is a Key to Our Success
When the Greater Des Moines Partnership was named a 2026 Mac Conway Award for Economic Development Excellence from Site Selection magazine, there was one portion of the magazine’s announcement that really stood out.
“These regions don’t give lip service to (regional collaboration),” the article states. “They embody it. Watch and learn.”
In Greater Des Moines, we work across sectors and across jurisdictional lines to drive growth.
This ability helps us stand out and has a real impact on our ability to complete economic development projects.
Not only that, but it has been and continues to be a driver in major projects that make Greater Des Moines a place where people want to live and grow their careers.
Join the Conversation at the Regional Summit
The spirit of regional collaboration will be on full display during the third annual Regional Summit on Thursday, Oct. 8.
This event started in 2024 because we heard from leaders across the region that they had a desire to build more connections outside of their immediate community. It has turned into a must-attend event for public, private and nonprofit leaders to come together and discuss issues that are important to all of us.
We have discovered that we are all facing many of the same opportunities and challenges, and that by working together we can help the entire region thrive. We heard feedback from one attendee that it can be difficult for small town officials to feel heard, but the Regional Summit gave them the opportunity to share their needs.
The conversations that happen at the Regional Summit carry forward throughout the next year. Last year’s presentation by economist James Chung gave us a better understanding of what has made our region strong and what we can continue to do to ensure growth for years and decades to come. (One of the recommendations was to continue to collaborate as a region.) This year’s summit will start a similar community conversation around artificial intelligence.
Keynote speaker Dominic Williams, a Senior Expert at McKinsey & Company’s Institute for Economic Mobility, will share insights drawn from the firm’s research on generative AI and economic growth. His work focuses on how economic growth, workforce trends and place-based strategies shape long-term prosperity. Attendees will learn how their organization can navigate change and opportunity. AI is a top-of-mind topic for most business and community leaders, and I am excited to see how Dominic’s insights help us think about the conversation as a community.
Other main session programming will include a panel of legacy leaders who will give perspectives on the regional collaboration that led to past community projects and initiatives, an ever-popular Mayors Panel consisting of mayors from cities across the region, recognition of companies that have won Economic Impact Awards from The Partnership and more. Breakout topics will include economic development, housing, placemaking, small business support, talent initiatives and more.
There will be plenty of networking time built in for attendees to make connections that will carry on past this day.
I encourage you to take this day to invest in our region. We will all be more successful because of it.
Learn more and register at DSMpartnership.com/regionalsummit.
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