Guild Partner Program

Program Benefits

Benefits include but are not limited to:

1. 1. Recognition on the Site Selectors Guild website as a Guild Partner. The Guild Partner Directory section of the website will serve as a resource for Guild members and corporate executives and include EDO Partner logos, a link to your organization, a key contact person, and more. Guild Partners will also be featured through various social media posts from the Guild.
   2. VIP opportunity to attend small Partner-only networking events with Guild members. The Guild hosts quarterly (x4) Partner-only events each year. Two Partner-only events are held in conjunction with the Annual Conference and Fall Forum. The other two Partner events are specially scheduled 2-day Summits for Partners to network with Guild members. The number of Guild partners allowed to participate at each Summit is intentionally capped to ensure smaller and more collaborative networking opportunities with Guild members. While Partner event registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, events have been planned so that Guild Partners will have an opportunity to participate.  Upon registering for a Partner-only event:
      • • Small EDO Partner will have the opportunity to secure one (1) registration slot for that event.
        • Midsize EDO Partner will have the opportunity to secure (1) registration slot for that event.
        • Large EDO Partner will have the opportunity to secure up to two (2) registration slots for that event.
        • Statewide/Multistate/National EDO Partner will have the opportunity to secure up to two (2) registration slots for that event.
      3. Priority access to register for Annual Conference and Fall Forum one week prior to the open registration period.
      4. Priority access to sponsorship opportunities for the Annual Conference and Fall Forum in advance of offering sponsorships to the general audience.
      5. Special lanyard recognition as a Guild Partner at all in-person events and conferences. Other exceptional recognition opportunities may include banners, signage, and podium notation/recognition.
      6. Participation in Guild research efforts and thought leadership programs. Partners will periodically be exclusively included in Guild surveys to identify and understand emerging economic development trends and conditions.

   *Partner-only events may have a registration fee to cover direct Guild event costs. Registrations are nontransferable to future events.

Benefits Period

Enrollment is by economic development organization, not individual. Partner enrollment and participation are for one (1) year, but an economic development organization can enroll anytime.

The Guild Partner Program is limited to 200 EDOs. During the enrollment/renewal period, Existing Partners will have the opportunity to renew each year. If a Partner fails to renew, their slot will be opened up to allow another EDO to enroll in the program.

Program Eligibility

Only economic development organizations can enroll and become Guild Partners. An economic development organization is defined as a government agency, public-private partnership, or utility division dedicated to the economic development of a specific geography, be it a town, city, county, region, state or nation.

Program Dues

Program Dues

The following tiered dues structure is designed to equitably allow participation by organizations of different sizes and resource capabilities.

• Small EDO (Operating budget under $500K): $1,500 per year
• Midsize EDO (Operating budget $500K-$1M): $2,500 per year
• Large EDO (Operating budget over $1M): $3,500 per year
• Statewide/Multistate/National EDOs: $5,000 per year

Partner payments are due upon enrolling in order to be accepted into the program.

Events Schedule

Upcoming Partner-Only Events

• March 12, 2025 – VIP Event at the Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, USA
• June 24-25, 2025 – Guild Partner Summer Summit, Santa Fe, NM, USA
• October 2025 – VIP Event at the Fall Forum, Indianapolis, IN, USA

Meet Guild Partners

Use our interactive partner directory to browse through Guild Partner profiles and learn more about participating economic development organizations and their communities.