EDUCATION | NETWORKING | COLLABORATION
Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI) invites economic development professionals, community leaders, business support organizations, consultants, and industry partners from across the United States and Canada to join us for the 2027 BREI Annual Conference, June 21–25 in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Set against one of the world's most recognized destinations, the 2027 conference will take BR&E education beyond the meeting room. Participants will experience five days of professional development, peer-to-peer learning, networking, technical tours, and firsthand examples of how communities are using business retention and expansion strategies to strengthen local economies.
Five Days of Learning, Connections and Experiences
The conference begins June 21–22 with BREI's Fundamentals of Business Retention & Expansion course, providing participants with practical instruction in developing and implementing successful BR&E programs. Topics will include program planning and evaluation, community profiles, social capital, local leadership teams, survey design, business visitation, red flag review, data analysis, action planning, community engagement, and program evaluation.
The main BREI Annual Conference begins June 23 and will feature an ambitious program examining some of the most important issues facing economic development professionals today.
Conference topics will include:
- The Future of Business Retention & Expansion and the evolving role of BR&E in building resilient communities
- Leadership and Community Transformation and strategies for guiding communities through economic change
- Investment Attraction and Economic Competitiveness
- Rural Economic Development and strategies for helping smaller communities compete for investment
- Business Retention, Expansion and Entrepreneurship
- Retail and Downtown Revitalization, including strategies for creating thriving commercial districts
- Tourism, Placemaking and Destination Development
- Workforce Development and Talent Retention
- Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Prosperity
- Artificial Intelligence, Data and Market Intelligence for economic development
- Digital Infrastructure and Future-Ready Communities
- Great Lakes Economic Development and Cruise Tourism
- Practical technology demonstrations during the BR&E Tech Blitz, showcasing emerging AI and business intelligence tools for economic developers
See Economic Development in Action
Niagara will become our classroom.
In addition to traditional conference sessions, BREI 2027 will feature technical tours and experiential learning opportunities throughout the Niagara Region.
Participants will explore the economic development strategies behind one of the world's premier tourism destinations while visiting communities, businesses, infrastructure projects, commercial districts, tourism assets, and development projects throughout Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Planned experiences include tours highlighting Niagara Parks and regional attractions, infrastructure and power generation, downtown and business improvement districts, tourism and hospitality development, arts and culture, agriculture, wineries, farm-to-table experiences, and the distinctive economic identities of Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
These experiences will give participants the opportunity to see how tourism, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, retail, placemaking, agriculture, business development, and public-private partnerships work together to drive a regional economy.
Connect with Economic Developers from Across North America
At its heart, BREI is a network of professionals committed to strengthening existing businesses and the communities they call home.
The 2027 Annual Conference will bring together economic developers and industry leaders from throughout the United States and Canada for meaningful conversations, new partnerships, and the exchange of ideas that can be taken home and put into practice.
From the opening reception overlooking Niagara Falls to technical tours, interactive panels, networking meals, and evening experiences throughout the Niagara Region, the conference has been designed to create connections as much as education.
Agenda
Click here to view the draft agenda
