Local First Arizona and hundreds of changemakers will join together for the 16th annual Arizona Rural Policy Forum, held this year at Bullion Plaza in Miami.

The conference attracts nearly 300 community leaders for the two-day forum and the add-on events in Globe and Miami where networking will go deep and participants will see firsthand why this part of the Copper Corridor is a special part of Arizona, according to a release.

The theme this year is “Moving Strategy into Action.” Based on last year’s feedback, the program will include more interactive sessions and networking opportunities, with a focus on “strategic doing.”

“The town of Miami welcomes all who are attending this forward-thinking event,” Miami Mayor Jose “Angel” Medina said. “I hope that everyone finds this ever-changing community with its rich mining heritage, new developments and ongoing beautification projects a perfect place to host this event.”

“Globe is excited to show the continued progress and momentum of our city over the past five years where our community spirit and local pride are going strong,” Globe Mayor Al Gameros said. “We hope to inspire participants at the Arizona Rural Policy Forum and look forward to collaborating on moving rural economies forward.”

Early-bird tickets for the Aug. 3-4 forum cost $99 through June 30. Tickets after the early-bird deadline cost $135. Add-on activities are available for an additional charge. Breakfast and lunch are included with Forum ticket price Aug. 3-4.

For tickets and details, go to localfirstaz.com/rural-policy-forum.

The forum’s goals are to:

• Improve regional collaboration between nonprofits, small businesses, rural employers, government and public entities to enhance economic development;
• Build relationships and facilitate networking between rural stakeholders;
• Increase the economic capacity of rural towns;
• Develop advocates for rural Arizona; and
• Create new strategies for building resilient communities.

Forum speakers are to include:

• Arizona Office of Resiliency Director Maren Mahoney, who will share how the new state office is working to secure the state’s water supply and advance a clean-energy economy.
• Agile Strategy Lab Associate Director Liz Nilsen, who is passionate about helping teams become engines of innovation. She will lead attendees in an exercise in “strategic doing,” a practice that quickly guides people toward successful, collaborative solutions.
• Arizona Rep. David Cook, who was elected in 2016 to represent Globe and the surrounding region in the state Legislature. A rancher and former Department of Corrections officer, he holds positions on the Gila County Cattle Growers’ Board of Directors and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Advisory Board.

Founded in 2003, Local First Arizona is a community and economic development organization working to strengthen local economies.

Go to localfirstaz.com for information and a directory of more than 3,000 locally owned businesses.