A message from Maureen Donohue Krauss, Detroit Regional Partnership President & CEO
The International Economic Development Council announced it will be hosting its 2025 annual conference in Detroit next fall. As an event sponsor, the Detroit Regional Partnership will have the opportunity to showcase the Detroit Region to economic developers from around the world.
There’s no one that takes greater pride in their work than hometown economic developers – and no city with a spirit and work ethic quite like Detroit.
It’s the perfect venue for economic development professionals to gather to hone their craft amid a time of exciting and unprecedented technological change – and we should know, it inspires our team at the Detroit Regional Partnership every day.
Detroit has always delivered an outsized cultural and economic influence. Yet, it’s a city on the rise that’s reinvented its downtown while providing a one-of-a-kind community for small businesses and entrepreneurs to innovate and create opportunity. It’s transformed its riverfront into the best in the United States.
And the most exciting thing? Detroit’s only getting started.
We couldn’t be more excited to share our great city and region at the 2025 International Economic Development Council Annual Conference.
We can’t wait to show what Detroit’s all about at the 2025 IEDC Conference. Since 2019, over $8 billion in investments have powered our resurgence, from cutting-edge automotive innovation to a burgeoning tech scene that’s turning heads nationwide. Beyond our booming downtown, visitors will discover the true heart of Detroit in our diverse neighborhoods and small business corridors. Here, upward mobility isn’t just a concept – it’s the driving force behind our community’s transformation. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it. The 2025 Conference is in for an unforgettable ride.
Kevin Johnson, President and CEO, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
Michigan is thrilled to welcome the International Economic Development Council to the heart of the Midwest for the 2025 annual conference. Our state has long been a leader in innovation, entrepreneurship, and upward mobility, making it the perfect backdrop for next year’s theme. From the dynamic urban centers to the cutting-edge industries that call Michigan home, attendees will experience firsthand the incredible opportunities we offer. IEDC has been pivotal in shaping the future of economic development, and I’m excited for the energy and inspiration this conference will bring to our region.
Paul Krutko, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ann Arbor SPARK
There is no better place to see and feel the power of economic development and transformation than Michigan. We are excited to welcome the IEDC next year and avail all attendees to those things that make Detroit a gamechanger: A storied history as the automotive capital of the world and the arsenal of democracy; the home of the NFC North Champions the Detroit Lions; the groove of Motown and dance techno; and the place where mobility, innovation and audacity come standard. Listen to Eminem and lose yourself in a Detroit moment!
Quentin L. Messer Jr., CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
