Four Corners Regional Economic Consortium will host the Four Corners Future Forum, a two-day conference that address regional economic challenges, Nov. 1-2 at San Juan College, 4601 College Blvd., in Farmington.
Business partners and tribes in the Four Corners will discuss ideas and make plans for a more sustainable and stable regional economy during the conference, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1, and from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 2.
“We view the involvement of not only the four states but all the tribal entities in the region as imperative to creating a path to a successful future as a region,” said Arvin Trujillo, government relations manager of Arizona Public Service Co. at Four Corners Power Plant, in a news release.
“The energy industry is shifting and it is going to affect us all, and we are stronger together than apart in addressing common threats.”
The conference was partly prompted by last year’s Partnership for Opportunities and Workforce and Economic Revitalization Report by Highland Economics (under contract to Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments).
The federally funded report highlighted new investment and development opportunities for the historically coal-dependent northwestern New Mexico area, which expanded to include the states and tribes in the Four Corners.
“It was evident that we needed to think from a regional perspective in order to address the threats to our economy from the declines in the coal and energy industries. As such, we need perspective from those that have forged regional initiatives before,” said Jeff Kiely, Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments executive director, in a news release.
Keynote speakers include Cheryal Lee Hills of the Minnesota Region 5 Development Commission and Jeff Finkle, president and CEO of the International Economic Development Council. A networking reception for regional partners will be held on Nov. 1.
For more information, visit www.4cornersed.com/4cff.
fstone@durangoherald.com
