Now in its sixth year, the Heber Valley Economic Development Office will host a summit to discuss strategies for business growth and development, marketing tactics and to hear from industry leaders on topics from entrepreneurship to business finance. The economic summit, titled "What's IN OUT back!," is broadening the scope of past summits, covering more than Heber Valley issues and incorporate potential business strategies for the entire Wasatch Back.

" coming to the economic summit, you'll learn universal business principles," said Ryan Starks, the Heber Valley Economic Development Director, "whether that is finance marketing or business development. There will be many ties to the Wasatch Back, something that is mutually beneficial for both Summit and Wasatch county businesses."

"There are typically a handful of attendees from Park City," he added, "but this year we are trying to broaden the net. It's hard to say how many will come in terms of percentage, but we do hope more people come."

Marketing efforts have increased in the Summit County area to attract more businesses outside of Wasatch County. In an effort to appeal to more businesses, for the first time the county is seeking Park City partners for the event and is seeing more Summit County businesses and government officials sign up to attend. Anita Lewis, the assistant county manager for Summit County, signed up for the event making it her first year attending.

"They are our neighbor," she said. "It would be nice to develop a better relationship with Wasatch County. I am attending to gain a better idea of where they are going, and what the long-term strategic plan is for the area."

Summit County plans to boost economic development by supporting diversification among businesses in the county, a strategy developed years ago. But it has been a while since the county's last economic summit, a fact Lewis said she hopes to remedy. The last economic summit in Summit County was three years ago, she said, and by attending the event in Heber she could gain better perspective on what possible issues might need to be covered in an economic summit hosted by the county.

"I want to see what neighboring county has planned," she said. "This is a great opportunity to start working together."

"I'd like to host a summit again, and from the discussions held in Wasatch County, I will know if there are any key issues they are talking about that we need to be talking about too."

The economic summit is scheduled to begin 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at the Zermatt Resort in Midway. The summit will feature keynote speaker Alan Hall, the managing director and founder of Mercato Partners and former CEO of MarketStar Corporation. Attendees will also hear from Weber State University's Vice-Provost for Research and Innovation, Alex Lawrence.

"The summit represents the business happenings from the Wasatch Back," Starks said, "pulling in people from all areas, but especially the Wasatch Back."

Along with the two keynote speakers, the summit will also include three breakout sessions and a marketing competition in which small businesses will present marketing plans before a panel of judges.

Following the summit, a four-person scramble golf tournament will be held at the recently renovated Crater Springs golf course at the Homestead Resort.

For more information or to register, visit www.gohebervalley.com/economicsummit or call 435-654-3666.