Registration is $129 per person
Group Rate is $516 | Purchase four registrations, get one free!
You are invited to the Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum in Shawnee, Oklahoma
COME JOIN US!
I’d like to personally invite you to this national Rural Economic Development Regional Forum taking place February 24 & 25, 2026. Our exciting host city for this dynamic event is Shawnee, Oklahoma. The event will be held at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort and other special locations around the area promoted for pre-Forum and post-Forum visits.. This 2026 Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum will feature nationally renowned subject matter experts and successful economic development practitioners along with special Best Practices Panels.
Topics covered include planning, leadership, entrepreneurship, downtown revitalization, rural tourism, sustainability, business retention & expansion, technology tools, effective communications, rural retail development, talent development, proven strategies and much more. And as always, the sharing of tips, tricks and resources will be off the charts.
Experience an event designed specifically for Rural America. You will receive tangible tools and strategies to help your cities, counties and regions grow. This event is packed with informative and innovative presentations, discussions, networking and celebrating what makes Rural America special. The Stand Up Rural America program has held highly successful events in Tulsa OK, Charleston WV, Somerset KY, Mulvane KS, Laurel MS, Decorah IA, French Lick IN, Canyon TX and Gonzales, TX while garnering high praise for the superior level of speakers, quality content and excellent networking opportunities.
This Forum is coordinated by ACCELERATION by design LLC. It has been my privilege to work with more than 450 rural communities and regions throughout my 34+ year economic development career. We thank Shawnee Forward for graciously serving as the host of the Forum, along with many Regional Partners. We are thrilled to be working with this awesome team representing this unique and exciting region!
This Forum is perfect for Economic Development Organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Cities, Counties, Downtown and Main Street Organizations, Regional Groups, Utilities, Industry Leaders, Lenders, Workforce Development, Elected Officials, ED & Chamber Board Members and anyone with a vested interest in the growth and prosperity of Rural America.
Forum sponsorships are available and we will host an exciting exhibit area. Registration for the Forum is open! We also offer a special group registration rate for five or more participants from one organization. We recognize your travel and budget challenges and want to do all we can to help you participate in the Forum.
You won't want to miss this special Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum. Please join us February 24 & 25, 2026 in beautiful Shawnee, Oklahoma to celebrate Rural America!
Let's Go! See you there!
Lorie Vincent
Lorie Vincent, CEcD
Founder | President
ACCELERATION by design LLC
Watch for the announcement of our exciting Speaker Slate coming soon!
Your generous sponsorship support allows us to provide a high level slate of nationally renowned speakers, in a beautiful and productive environment, at a cost that is affordable to our rural participants. We offer many sponsorship levels, with an abundance of benefits. If you do not find an opportunity that fits your objectives, please reach out and let's discuss a solution! We also offer a vibrant location for vendors and exhibitors at the Forum. Sponsorships and Vendor Tables can be secured online through the registration portal, you can request an online invoice to pay with a credit card or we can send you an invoice. We are happy to accommodate your payment system.
FORUM HOST | Thank You Shawnee Forward
PRESENTING SPONSOR | $5,000 (Exclusive)
TITLE SPONSOR | $4,000 (Exclusive)
HOSPITALITY SPONSOR | $3,000 (Exclusive)
LUNCHEON SPONSOR | $2,500 (Exclusive)
SOLD REFRESHMENT SPONSOR | Thank You BancFirst
SOLD FORUM BAG SPONSOR | Thank You Amazon Hub Delivery
PLATINUM SPONSORS | $3,000
GOLD SPONSORS | $2,000
COMMUNITY SPONSORS | $1,000
SILVER SPONSORS | $750
BRONZE SPONSORS | $500 | Thank You Astro Panda Studios
FORUM VENDOR/EXHIBITOR PACKAGE | $300
FORUM CONTRIBUTOR | $100*
*benefits do not include complimentary registrations.
Forum Sponsorships
Hotel & Travel Information
If you are traveling to the Shawnee, Oklahoma area by air, the Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City is your closest airport to the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort, approximately 35 miles. Multiples options for rental cars are available onsite.
The Stand Up Rural America Regional Forum will be held in the Event Center at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort.
Grand Casino Hotel & Resort
777 Grand Casino Boulevard
Shawnee, OK 74804
LINK TO HOTEL ROOM BLOCK:
A special hotel rate is available for our attendees for the night of February 24, 2026. CLICK HERE for the instructions and links to the Forum's Hotel Block.