Annual Meeting 2026: The Future is Regional

Join community leaders, elected officials, business professionals, educators, and regional partners for the Southeast Tennessee Regional Summit and Annual Meeting as we explore the issues, opportunities, and investments shaping the future of our communities.

This year’s theme, “The Future is Regional,” centers on a simple idea: many of the opportunities and challenges facing our communities extend beyond city and county lines, and our ability to move forward is strengthened when we work together.

The summit will feature Gayle Conelly Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), along with panelists representing organizations and industries helping shape the future of Southeast Tennessee and the broader region.

Conversations will bring together perspectives on utilities and infrastructure, emerging technologies such as quantum, rural healthcare accessibility, economic development, regional investment, and more. Together, we’ll look at how these areas intersect and what collaboration across sectors and communities can mean for the region’s long-term growth and competitiveness.

Attendees will hear from regional and national leaders, gain insight into emerging opportunities, and connect with others working to strengthen communities across Southeast Tennessee.

Together, we’ll explore an important question:

What does the future of Southeast Tennessee look like when we approach it as a region?