The Great Lakes Economic Development Council, a newly formed economic development organization dedicated to driving growth and revitalization across the binational Great Lakes region, will host its inaugural Annual Conference at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit from Oct. 22–24, 2025.
Uniting business leaders, policymakers and economic development professionals, the event will advance GLEDC’s broader mission of strengthening one of North America’s most vital regional economies (an area encompassing 20 percent of the world’s fresh water.
The October event comes at a pivotal moment of shifting global markets, politics, and economic policy, and will help highlight regional strength and resiliency.
GLEDC is North America’s newest regional economic development organization, assembling governments, businesses, and other economic leaders from across the U.S. and Canada. The organization is guided by a voluntary Board of Advisors representing all 10 Great Lakes jurisdictions, including Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ontario, and Québec.
“Detroit is the perfect setting for our first conference,” says Tim Hindes, executive director of GLEDC. “This city embodies the challenges, resilience, and reinvention that define the Great Lakes, and the opportunities that lie ahead.
“Through this organization, we’re channeling that same spirit into a unified effort to revitalize the region and secure its long-term economic strength.”
Over three days, conference attendees will dive into expert-led panels and sessions that tackle the most urgent economic challenges and opportunities facing the Great Lakes.
Topics/industry highlights will include:
- Foreign direct investment trends
- Case studies in advanced manufacturing and clean energy
- Global leadership in the automotive and advanced mobility industries
- The maritime sector’s role in trade, coastal resiliency, and emissions reduction
- And, leveraging binational collaboration, infrastructure projects like the Gordie Howe International Bridge and abundant freshwater as competitive advantages
Attended by a range of local, state, and regional policymakers and thought leaders, the conference will highlight how collective action can drive innovation and strengthen communities, and help secure the Great Lakes’ position as a globally competitive economic marketplace.
Today, GLEDC’s broader work includes encouraging collaboration and promoting the region for new investment. The council also recognizes that the Great Lakes’ natural resources give the region a unique advantage, and it works to position this swath of North America as a leader in sustainable development.
“The Great Lakes are more than a natural treasure, they’re an economic engine,” says Hindes. “Our water, energy, and other resources give us a lasting competitive edge in attracting investment and supporting sustainable growth.
“During our event, the GLEDC and Conway Data will also debut the first-ever ‘Great Lakes Economic Development Guide,’ which will be used to attract new businesses and residents to the region.”
This year’s attendees will help directly inform the Great Lakes’ collective economic future, as the region forges ahead in additional industries like food processing and tourism, among others.
To learn more and register, visit here.
For more information about the Great Lakes Economic Development Council, visit greatlakesedc.org/.
The GLEDC is a voluntary association of governments, universities, businesses, and economic development organizations across the binational Great Lakes region. GLEDC leverages its collective resources to accelerate business investment, advance innovation, and promote sustainable prosperity for the 50 million people who call the Great Lakes home.
