Welcome to the Great Lakes Economic Development Council member update. GLEDC members provide leadership in accelerating business investment in the Great Lakes region through advocacy, education and promotion efforts. Send story ideas, announcements or events to info@greatlakesedc.org
Looking Ahead: What’s in Store for the Great Lakes EDC
A message to our members and partners
As we begin a new year, the Great Lakes Economic Development Council is entering an important next chapter — one focused on action, alignment, and deeper engagement across the region.
Building on the momentum of the Great Lakes Rising Conference and our Charting the Course strategic planning session, 2026 will be about turning shared ideas into tangible outcomes that strengthen collaboration, elevate the region’s voice, and deliver clear value to members. The focus will be on the six pillars identified by conference participants listed below.
Collaboration & Connectivity
At its core, the work of the Great Lakes Economic Development Council is about bringing people together across borders, sectors, and communities. In the year ahead, collaboration and connectivity will drive how the organization operates and where it invests its energy.
This includes strengthening cross-border relationships among economic developers, utilities, educators, and industry partners, while creating more opportunities for peer connection through affinity groups and shared initiatives. By making collaboration easier and more intentional, the GLEDC helps communities move faster, learn from one another, and tackle challenges that no single place can solve alone.
Unified Regional Voice
The Great Lakes is one of the most significant economic regions in North America, yet its story is often told in pieces.
A key focus moving forward is aligning data, messaging, and priorities to present a clearer, more compelling regional narrative.
Through shared research, coordinated communications, and collective advocacy, the GLEDC is working to elevate a unified regional voice—one that reflects the strength, diversity, and binational nature of the Great Lakes economy. Speaking together allows the region to be more visible, more credible, and more competitive on the national and global stage.
Promotion & Positioning
How the Great Lakes is perceived matters. Promotion and positioning are about more than marketing—they are about shaping understanding and confidence in the region as a place to invest, work, and build a future.
In the coming year, the GLEDC will expand storytelling that highlights regional assets, recent investment activity, industry strengths, and quality of life. By sharing fact-based insights and real-world success stories, the organization helps reinforce the Great Lakes’ position as a destination defined by opportunity, resilience, and long-term value.
Shared Learning & Professional Development
Economic development is a profession built on continuous learning. One of the GLEDC’s most important roles is creating space for professionals across the region to learn from one another and grow together.
Through digital learning programs, peer exchanges, and leadership development opportunities, the organization supports skill-building and knowledge sharing at every career stage. These efforts ensure that practitioners across the Great Lakes are better equipped to respond to change, adopt new ideas, and deliver results in their communities.
Organizational Sustainability & Growth
A strong regional organization requires a strong foundation. As the GLEDC expands its impact, equal attention is being given to building long-term sustainability and organizational capacity.
This includes strengthening membership, diversifying revenue, improving systems and processes, and gradually adding staffing support. These steps ensure the organization can deliver consistent value, adapt as it grows, and remain a reliable partner for members and collaborators across the region.
Member Programs & Benefits
Members are the heart of the Great Lakes EDC, and enhancing the member experience is a priority in the year ahead. The organization is focused on delivering clear, tangible benefits that support professional growth, visibility, and connection.
From exclusive programming and leadership opportunities to improved communication and engagement pathways, the GLEDC is committed to ensuring membership is both valuable and meaningful. By investing in its members, the organization strengthens the entire Great Lakes economic development ecosystem.
Help Lead the Work Ahead
Delivering on the Great Lakes EDC’s program of work will take more than strong ideas — it will take active leadership from across the region.
The Great Lakes Economic Development Council is inviting members to serve on its Advisory Council and standing committees supporting programs, membership, communications, conferences, and professional development. These roles provide a hands-on opportunity to help guide strategy, shape initiatives, and strengthen collaboration across the Great Lakes.
Service offers a meaningful way to contribute regional perspective, build connections with peers, and help turn shared priorities into action.
Be Part of the Future of the Great Lakes Region: Join the Great Lakes EDC in 2026!
The Great Lakes Economic Development Council invites economic development professionals to join a growing, binational network that is actively advancing the priorities highlighted in this year’s review.
From strengthening cross-border partnerships and expanding shared learning opportunities to elevating the region’s collective voice,
GLEDC membership connects practitioners to the work already underway. By building on these efforts, members gain a regional perspective that complements national, state, and provincial organizations while helping turn shared challenges into shared progress. Sign up here today!
