Each March, the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) co-hosts a federal policy focused conference with the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA). The conference provides an excellent learning opportunity to gain deeper knowledge of federal programs, meet with federal agency leaders, and spend time on Capitol Hill meeting with legislators. This year a delegation of leaders from Planning District Commissions in Southwest Virginia met with Congressman Morgan Griffith to discuss federal programs important to advancing economic development such as the Appalachian Regional Commission, the US Economic Development Administration, and brownfields program administered by the US EPA. Prior to the visit with the Congressman, Kevin Byrd was an invited speaker at the National League of Cities (NLC) conference where he spoke about the value of the US Economic Development Administration in regional economic development in the New River Valley. He was joined on the panel by Nathan Ohle, CEO of the International Economic Development Council. The conference session was moderated by Michale Wallace, Legislative Director for the NLC.
