A statewide program to help educate communities in how to best help local businesses thrive is coming to Howell.

Michigan State University Extension’s annual Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference, or CEC, will take place in downtown Howell on October 4th and 5th. The conference will bring more than 150 attendees from across the state and beyond. Many breakout sessions will take place in shops, restaurants, and other venues throughout the downtown area. Sessions will be based on topics like talent recruitment, technology, online business planning, creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem and more. Keynote presentations will be given Joe Parker, an investor and entrepreneur in Howell, and the Great Foodini, Renee Chodkowski. Pat Convery, President of the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce said that this conference has something for everyone in the community, whether you work in economic development, business, arts and culture, government, philanthropy, or education.

Registration is now open and early sign-up discounts are available. The cost of the event is $85 per person before September 23rd, and $100 between September 24th and October 1st. Sign up after that and the fee goes up to $125. More information can be found contacting Convery at (517) 546-3920, or by emailing him at pconvery@howell.org. Register at https://events.anr.msu.edu/CEC2017. A full view of all the breakout sessions can be seen through the link below. (MK)