ST.LOUIS — The St. Louis Electrical Connection is co-sponsoring the 51st annual Governor’s Conference on Economic Development, themed “Missouri at Work … Investing in Tomorrow.” The conference will be held from Wednesday, September 9, 2009, to Friday, September 11, 2009, at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront Hotel in Downtown St. Louis, Mo. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. on September 9.

Speakers and breakout sessions will address such topics as economic development strategies; technology-based economic development; government funding options; job growth through education and training; business retention and expansion methods; exporting; and entrepreneurship. The conference is being organized by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Division of Business and Community Services, the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, the Missouri Department Finance Board, the Missouri Housing Development Commission and the Missouri Women’s Council.

Keynote speakers include Cindy Brinkley, senior vice president, talent development and chief diversity officer of AT&T, and Jim Carroll, an internationally recognized innovation consultant, speaker, author and columnist.

Registration is $195. To register, key http://www.ded.mo.gov/conference.htm, or call (573) 751-4962.

Additional co-sponsors include the Missouri Association of Realtors, Boeing, the Missouri Housing Industry Alliance, BKD, LLP, Ameren, Mineral Area College, the Missouri Growth Association, Columbia Capital Management, LLC, the Kansas City Area Development Council, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA), the St. Louis Development Corp. and the Training and Employment Administrators of Missouri (TEAM).

The St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) partners with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One to form the Electrical Connection. To learn more, go to www.electricalconnection.org.