The fifth annual What’s Goin’ Down Up North Economic Summit, produced in partnership with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, will be held Thursday, Sept 30 at the Space Dynamics Laboratory Calibration Auditorium which is part of the USU Innovation Campus in North Logan. Cache Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Sandy Emille says the Summit is designed to showcase businesses, encourage networking and spur economic development activity in Cache, Rich and Box Elder counties as well as Bear Lake, Franklin ad Oneida counties in Idaho. “Our focus this time is to get businesses to present how they are still succeeding in moving forward in challenging times,” Emile said on KVNU’s Crosstalk Show Friday, “what they’ve done to think outside the box, what they’ve done to move their business around, and what tools they’ve used to reinvent themselves. “We even have a panel in the afternoon that’s called Transitional Workforce Panel.” Business owners, elected officials, economic developers, University staff and others interested are all invited to attend the event. Emile says the summit will also aim to discuss the area’s strengths and weaknesses. Emile says one of Cache Valley’s weaknesses is not being on the Interstate. “How do we get our goods in and out of this valley and still remain competitive with the rest of the state that is on the major backbone corridor of I-15?” Emile asked. “We can do this. We have to come up with some creative ways. “Maybe we have to partner in freight issues. Maybe we have to develop our road corridors to be a little more appropriate for our trucking industries. We needed to look at air cargo. I think we’ve done a really good job with our community airport in getting air cargo in and out of here. It’s continued to grow.” Emile says the keynote luncheon speaker will be Lew W. Cramer, President and CEO of World Trade Center Utah. Jeff Edwards, President and CEO of EDC-Utah, will present an economic report. She says those and other speakers will provide the most current information on the economic climate, economic development activity and resources for business development. For information and reservations call 797-9610.