GARC Economic Development Conference – Lake Lanier Island, GA
We are excited to once again host the GARC Economic Development Conference in just a few months! The conference will be held at Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Buford, Georgia (www.lanierislands.com) on May 3-5, 2026. This conference is a unique training opportunity for Regional Commission staff and policy members; it may also be beneficial for other partners. Please share this information on registration, sponsorships, hotel accommodations and speakers with others as needed. The Economic and Community Development Committee is hard at work planning a robust agenda with notable speakers, conference sessions, and evening events. Please check back to the GARC website: www.garc.ga.gov. for conference updates including the agenda (when available). Registration is open from March 2- April 10, 2026. Click HERE to register or scan QR code. **NOTE: All Regional Commissions are responsible for at least three registrations. Payment for three registrations will be required regardless of attendance at the conference. Registration FULL REGISTRATION – $350.00 per person Full registration includes all conference sessions, receptions, meals and breaks. SPOUSE/GUEST REGISTRATION – $250.00 per person The Spouse/Guest rate is for a guest accompanying any registered attendee and includes receptions and all meals. MONDAY ONLY REGISTRATION- $175.00 per person Monday Only registration includes breakfast, lunch and breaks on Monday. It does not include the reception or dinner. Upon receipt of the Registration Form, the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission will send an invoice for payment. Payment must be made by check. Cancellations Any cancellations for conference registration must be received by April 17, 2026, to receive a refund (minus a $50.00 administrative fee). Cancellations received after April 17, 2026, will not be eligible for a refund. Hotel Reservations Room Block Available Until April 3, 2026 A block of hotel rooms (Reference GARC Economic Development Conference) is reserved at Lake Lanier Islands Resort with a GARC Conference rate of $199.00 per night plus a $20.00 resort fee and applicable taxes (13%). Room reservations can be made by contacting Lake Lanier Islands Resort directly at 1-800-840-5253, the online link here, or by emailing reservations@lanierislands.com before April 3, 2026. Additionally, hotel cancellations must be made prior to April 3, 2026, to avoid any fees. Speakers Speakers who exclusively participate in their session will incur no charges and are invited to partake in refreshments throughout their presentation. Speakers who wish to attend the entire day or conference are invited to register at the appropriate level. Speakers are also requested to provide their bio on the registration portal. Sponsorship Opportunities There are three $750 sponsorship opportunities: Sunday night reception, Monday lunch, and Monday night reception. Sponsors will have the opportunity to speak briefly at the sponsored event. Interested sponsors can complete the Select Sponsor on the online registration form. Upon receipt of the Registration Form, the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission will send an invoice to the Sponsor for payment. The sponsorship deadline is April 3, 2026. For questions or additional information, please contact Laura M. Mathis, GARC President at garc@mg-rc.org. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming 2026 GARC Economic Development Conference at Lake Lanier Islands Resort.
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Click HERE for conference details including registration & sponsor information Click HERE to see the Conference brochure & agenda.
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GARC Economic Development Conference
2024 GARC Economic Development Conference – Click HERE to register This year’s conference will be held May 5-7, 2024 at the Legacy Lodge & Conference Center at Lake Lanier Islands Resort located at 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA 30518. This conference is a unique training opportunity for Regional Commission staff and policy members; it may also be beneficial for other partners. Please share this information on registration, sponsorships, hotel accommodations and speakers with others as needed. The GARC Economic and Community Development Committee is hard at work planning a robust agenda with notable speakers, conference sessions, and evening events. Please check back to the GARC website for conference updates including the agenda (when available). All Regional Commissions are responsible for at least three registrations. Payment for three registrations will be required regardless of attendance at the conference. The Board of Directors will have a planning session on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 2pm. Registration Costs: FULL REGISTRATION – $350.00 per person Full registration includes all conference sessions, receptions, meals and breaks. SPOUSE/GUEST REGISTRATION – $250.00 per person The Spouse/Guest rate is for a guest accompanying any registered attendee and includes all conference sessions, receptions, meals and breaks. MONDAY ONLY REGISTRATION- $175.00 per person Monday Only registration includes breakfast, lunch and breaks on Monday. It does not include the reception or dinner. *Upon receipt of this Registration Form, the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission will send an invoice for payment. * *Any cancellations for conference registration must be received by April 25, 2024, to receive a refund (minus a $50.00 administrative fee). Cancellations received after April 25, 2024, will not be eligible for a refund. * Hotel Reservations: A block of hotel rooms (Reference GARC Economic Development Conference) is reserved at Lake Lanier Islands Resort with a GARC Conference rate of $179.00 plus a $20.00 resort fee and applicable taxes (13%). Room reservations can be made online at the Lake Lanier Islands Resort website, by calling 1-800-840-5253, or by emailing reservations@lanierislands.com before April 4, 2024 Speakers: Speakers who exclusively participate in their session will incur no charges and are invited to partake in refreshments throughout their presentation. Speakers who wish to attend the entire day or conference are invited to register at the appropriate level. Speakers are also requested to provide their bio on the registration portal. Sponsorship Opportunities: There are three $750 sponsorship opportunities: Sunday night reception, Monday lunch, and Monday night reception. Sponsors will have the opportunity to speak briefly at the sponsored event. Interested sponsors can complete the Select Sponsor on the online registration form. Upon receipt of the Sponsorship Form, the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission will send an invoice to the Sponsor for payment. Sponsorship deadline is April 15, 2024. Sponsors are also requested to provide their logo on the registration portal. FOR QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: please contact Laura Mathis (GARC President) or Jim Livingston (GARC Conference Committee Chair) To register, click HERE.
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GARC Annual Conference
On behalf of the Georgia Association of Regional Commissions (GARC), we cordially invite you to the 23rd Annual GARC Training Conference. The Conference will be held at the King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island, November 8-10, 2023, with sessions beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 and ending on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. GARC represents all 12 of Georgia’s Regional Commissions. We will have a statewide audience of approximately 250 attendees, which will include Regional Commission council members from across the state, Regional Commission and state agency staff, and many other community and corporate leaders interested in state and regional development and planning. Our conference presents a great opportunity to network with peers, share best practices and learn from practical workshops and sessions led by state leadership and subject matter experts. Presentations and other related documents
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