Perry, Dewhurst and Perryman among speakers A limited number of early reservation seats are still available for the East Texas Economic Development Summit on November 12 at the Fredonia Hotel from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Hosted by Sen. Robert Nichols, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples and the Texas Forest Country Partnership, the biennial Summit is an opportunity for area leaders, economic development professionals and members from the business community to address the unique economic issues and opportunities in East Texas. This year's theme is, Opportunity Is Knocking: Are You Ready? Staples stressed the importance of the East Texas economy to the state's overall economic well being. "Our rural communities are rich with resources and offer tremendous potential for statewide prosperity," Staples said. "The East Texas Economic Development Summit is the perfect forum for building partnerships with our rural neighbors to help leverage opportunities for economic growth. Embracing and developing the strengths of rural Texas will improve our state's overall economic climate." Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will appear, and keynote speaker, Dr. Ray Perryman, will address the economic outlook for East Texas. Perryman is widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential and innovative economists. Other speakers and panelists include: Mark Ellison with Texas A&M University, economic development specialist Mike Barnes, State House members from across East Texas, and heads of state agencies. Limited early registration seats are $50, including lunch. Registration at the door, space permitting, is $75. A Summit brochure with a schedule and registration form is available on the Texas Forest Country Web site: http://www.tfcpartnership.org/ Sponsors of the 2009 event are: Brookshire Brothers, CenterPoint Energy, Citizens 1st Bank, Deep East Texas Council of Governments, East Texas Regional Development Company, First Bank & Trust East Texas, Hotel Fredonia, Lower Neches Valley Authority, North American Procurement Company, Sabine River Authority of Texas, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texans for Lawsuit Reform and Work Force Solutions. Event co-sponsors are: Texas State Bank, AT&T, Austin Bank, BancorpSouth, City of Lufkin Economic Development, Consolidated Communications, East Texas Electric Cooperative, General Shelters, Heritage Land Bank, Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation, ONCOR, Pineywoods Resource Conservation & Development, Inc., Sam Houston Electric Cooperative, Texas Forestry Association, Texas Poultry Federation and Affiliates, Texas State Bank, Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority, Gary Traylor & Associates and East Texas Medical Center.