On July 11, the NADO Research Foundation held its second virtual peer exchange on collaborative transportation and economic development planning.  Bringing together transportation and economic development practitioners from RDOs and state agencies, the peer exchange provided hands-on training on engaging business, economic development, and workforce development stakeholders in transportation planning processes.  Using innovative virtual learning techniques, the event connected participants with practitioners on the cutting edge of stakeholder engagement, highlighted best practices from around the country, and engaged attendees in interactive exercises and small group discussions.

The peer exchange featured a plenary presentation by the CEO of Montana’s Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, which has taken a leadership role in addressing transportation needs in its unincorporated community and secured a $10.3 million TIGER grant; success stories from Virginia to Minnesota; 5×5 presentations from several RDOs around the country; and brainstorming sessions on potential economic development stakeholders to engage in transportation planning and their value propositions.

The agenda from the peer exchange is available here (PDF).  The slides are available here (PDF). The Stakeholder Identification Exercise participants completed in preparation for the event is available here (PDF).

This training was the second installment of ‘On the Road to Prosperity: Fostering Collaborative Transportation and Economic Development Planning,’ a series of five virtual peer exchanges exploring how transportation and economic development planning practitioners can work together to maximize the economic impact of infrastructure investments, grow businesses and jobs, and strengthen the livability and vitality of communities and regions.  These peer exchanges are conducted with support from FHWA.

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