Planning & Development

Join us on Friday, November 6^th to hear the latest on state and federal housing policy, key updates to state building code and Duluth’s new housing-friendly zoning code, innovative housing solutions, and much more!

8:00am – Registration Opens

8:00am-9:00am – Coffee & Networking 

8:40am-8:55am – New Development Tools from St. Louis County: Live Demonstration!

Darren Jablonsky, St. Louis County Economic & Community Development

9:00am-9:15am – Mayor’s Welcome

Roger Reinert, Mayor of Duluth

9:15am-10:30am – Housing Policy Updates & 2027 Preview

Daniel Lightfoot, League of Minnesota Cities
Anne Mavity, Minnesota Housing Partnership
Tane Danger, Danger Boat Productions (Moderator)

10:45am-11:45am – Regulatory Policy Updates

Jenn Moses, City of Duluth – Duluth's Unified Development Chapter Updates
Don Sivigny, MN Department of Labor & Industry – Minnesota’s 2026 Building Code Updates

12:00pm-1:00pm – Lunch Provided

12:30pm-1:00pm – Keynote Address: The City as a Work of Art

Dr. Jennifer Webb, University of Minnesota-Duluth

1:15pm-2:30pm – Meeting The Market: Innovative Approaches to Residential Development

Irene Ruiz-Briseño, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
Emily Stewart, CoNorth
Mark Borseth, DigiKey Electronics
Tane Danger, Danger Boat Productions (Moderator)

2:45pm-3:15pm – Affordable Housing Project Updates

Deyona Kirk, Divine Konnections Inc.
Katie Hagglund, Union Gospel Mission
Dustin Rietsema, Center City Housing Corporation

3:15pm-3:45pm – Building a City of Welcome

Anne Mavity, Minnesota Housing Partnership

*Program schedule is subject to change