The Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) and the Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI) are joining forces this summer for a joint conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference, August 14-17, will be at the Sheraton New Orleans, just steps away from the French Quarter. The theme of this year’s event Building the Future: Strategies for Business Retention, Expansion, and Attraction, will bring together economic development professionals from around the world.