Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum in Shawnee, Oklahoma
COME JOIN US!
I’d like to personally invite you to this national Rural Economic Development Regional Forum taking place February 24 & 25, 2026. Our exciting host city for this dynamic event is Shawnee, Oklahoma. The event will be held at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort and other special locations around the area promoted for pre-Forum and post-Forum visits.. This 2026 Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum will feature nationally renowned subject matter experts and successful economic development practitioners along with special Best Practices Panels.
Topics covered include planning, leadership, entrepreneurship, downtown revitalization, rural tourism, sustainability, business retention & expansion, technology tools, effective communications, rural retail development, talent development, proven strategies and much more. And as always, the sharing of tips, tricks and resources will be off the charts.
Experience an event designed specifically for Rural America. You will receive tangible tools and strategies to help your cities, counties and regions grow. This event is packed with informative and innovative presentations, discussions, networking and celebrating what makes Rural America special. The Stand Up Rural America program has held highly successful events in Tulsa OK, Charleston WV, Somerset KY, Mulvane KS, Laurel MS, Decorah IA, French Lick IN, Canyon TX and Gonzales, TX while garnering high praise for the superior level of speakers, quality content and excellent networking opportunities.
This Forum is coordinated by ACCELERATION by design LLC. It has been my privilege to work with more than 450 rural communities and regions throughout my 34+ year economic development career. We thank Shawnee Forward for graciously serving as the host of the Forum, along with many Regional Partners. We are thrilled to be working with this awesome team representing this unique and exciting region!
This Forum is perfect for Economic Development Organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Cities, Counties, Downtown and Main Street Organizations, Regional Groups, Utilities, Industry Leaders, Lenders, Workforce Development, Elected Officials, ED & Chamber Board Members and anyone with a vested interest in the growth and prosperity of Rural America.
Forum sponsorships are available and we will host an exciting exhibit area. Registration for the Forum is open! We also offer a special group registration rate for five or more participants from one organization. We recognize your travel and budget challenges and want to do all we can to help you participate in the Forum.
You won’t want to miss this special Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum. Please join us February 24 & 25, 2026 in beautiful Shawnee, Oklahoma to celebrate Rural America!