Rob Cleveland’s keynote presentation presents that the fight for a community to be noticed has never been more challenging in Economic Development. Competition is more fierce, attention spans are shorter, and the access to data has never been greater. We are all aware of the most obvious economic changes that impact our day-to-day lives. Some of these changes took decades to notice, while other happened overnight. For small businesses, Technology has provided a more direct connection to current and potential customers. With access comes responsibility, and customers are demanding a more friction-free economy. Shifting demographics have caused seismic changes to retail establishment, and available workforce. All of these moves mean one thing; changing the way we look at economic development. Attendees will leave with a look into how Cornerstone Alliance is leading the efforts to change Berrien County’s economy to meet the demands of today’s consumer. You will get detailed information on how Cornerstone Alliance is bringing new companies, new amenities and new people to Berrien County, which leads directly to more business and new customers for small business owners throughout Michigan’s Great Southwest.