EDF 2026 – Power Forward

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19th ANNUAL

2026
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM
AUGUST 25-27, 2026

Renasant Conventions Center, Memphis, TN

Sponsorship Guide

19th

Year!

Welcome To EDF 2026

The Mid-South Business Continuum and TADP
present the
2026 Economic Development Forum

Rub shoulders with thought-leaders, trendsetters and executives from your industry. Top-tier investors, policymakers, startups, and scale-ups, are among the many features of these two days of business, knowledge sharing and a whole lot of fun.

Power Forward

Built for Momentum. Designed for Movement.

Momentum is no longer optional. It’s essential!

Power Forward drives EDF 2026, a bold convening built to move business ahead through intentional connection and real opportunity. This is where ideas gain traction, relationships turn into action, and progress accelerates.

EDF 2026 brings together small businesses, corporations, public agencies, capital partners and ecosystem partners for a high-impact experience centered on purposeful engagement. Through curated matchmaking, dynamic programming, and thoughtfully designed interactions, EDF creates the conditions for partnerships to form, deals to take shape, and growth to move from possibility to reality.

This isn’t traditional networking. It’s strategic momentum...where the right people meet, the right conversations happen, and meaningful outcomes follow.

EDF 2026 Sponsors

Our Official Sponsors

We have dedicated tracks for your industry, whether you want to hire top talent, find contracts, or get funding.

Presenting Sponsors

Host Sponsors

Event Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

Media Sponsors

MATCHMAKING AT THE CORE

The Engine of EDF 2026

At EDF 2026, matchmaking isn’t casual networking. It’s structured opportunity.

Each stream is curated, scheduled, and designed to align real needs with real solutions. Whether pursuing contracts, capital, talent, services, or visibility, matchmaking transforms introductions into purposeful business conversations.

2026 Matchmaking Streams

Procurement Matchmaking

Corporate Gifting & B2C Product Matchmaking

Workforce Matchmaking (Hiring Stream)

Banking & Financial Services Matchmaking

Capital & Investor Matchmaking

Business Services & Resource Partners Matchmaking

Media & Visibility Matchmaking

Explore All Matchmaking Streams

Matchmaking participation requires advance registration and profile completion and is reserved for confirmed sponsors and All Access Pass holders. Space is limited within select streams to maintain a high-quality experience.

EDF 2025 Highlights

EDF Recap Video

Day 1 – Wednesday September 9

Day 2 – Wednesday September 10

Day 3 – Thursday September 11

Robert R. Church, Sr. Achievement Awards Gala
Thursday, September 11