Perth County, investStratford, and the Ministry of Rural Affairs are hosting the Rural Prosperity at Provincial Agriculture Forum this week in Stratford.
The 18th annual event will be held over two days on Monday, September 28 and Tuesday, September 29. The theme this year is "Setting the Stage for Rural Prosperity."
Attending the forum are over 130 municipal leaders, economic development professionals, planners, and industry partners from across the province.
Monday began with an agricultural and business discovery tour, allowing participants to experience the many agricultural businesses in the region, followed by a networking reception at Lynn River Farm.
Tuesday will see everyone gather at Stratford's Tom Patterson Theatre for a full day of discussions exploring the opportunities and challenges facing rural Ontario. The conference will feature municipal and provincial leaders, Indigenous perspectives, industry experts and practitioners.
"Perth County has an incredible story to tell, and we're excited to share it with colleagues from across the province," said Meredith Forget, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for Perth County. "Our greatest strength is our ability to build relationships and turn those relationships into opportunities. Whether we're supporting local businesses, attracting investment or working with our municipal and provincial partners, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. This forum gives us the opportunity to showcase not only our agricultural and business communities, but also the partnerships and programs that help them succeed."
