Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will host The Bronx Economic Summit: a Blueprint for Success, a full-day event designed to bring business owners and industry experts together to discuss and create an economic plan for the future of the borough.

The summit will examine and discuss important topics such as: the potential areas of growth and large scale developments, including the development of a Bronx marketing plan; how to attract and retain businesses on our commercial corridors, including the critical role of cultural organizations in the borough economy; the opportunities offered by the green economy, including planet friendly transportation and development of vacant land/brownfield; and unemployment factors in the borough, job training needs for future jobs, and that role of start-ups in employment.

“Our business organizations and merchants associations have worked separately to improve their own neighborhoods for too long. We need to work together to develop a strategic plan that will ensure the strength of all our business districts and position them for positive growth in the years to come,” said Borough President Diaz. “It is time to come together and plan for the entire borough.”The event’s keynote speaker will be Edward Mazria, Founder and Executive Director of Architecture 2030, who will present an eye-opening presentation of current events, illustrating the magnitude of the business opportunity, but also its fragility. Drawing on his 40 years of architecture experience, Mr. Mazria will speak to the importance of local government creating and presenting a united front at this critical moment in history.

Some of the panel moderators are: Brian Warner, Director Policy Analyst of the New York Power Authority; Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO of the Partnership for New York City; Paul Lipson, Chief of Staff for Congressman Jose E. Serrano’s Office; Jonathan Bowles, Director for the Center for an Urban Future; Steven J. Jerome, President of Monroe College; and Daniel Massey, Crain’s New York Business Reporter.

The business summit, organized by the Bronx Overall Development Corporation (BOEDC), will take place on November 18th, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, at The New York Botanical Garden. The event is free but reservation is mandatory, to reserve please visit BOEDC.