The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District will hold its annual Mid-Columbia Economic Symposium next week. MCEDD’s Jason Hartmann says the gathering will cover a wide range of topics impacting the Gorge economy. This year’s keynote speaker is U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Washington State Director Helen Price Johnson talkng about federal support for rural communities. There will also be two panel discussions: one to check in on our main street businesses and one to hear how local agriculture is impacted by and responding to climate change. The Symposium will be November 1 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Dalles Civic Auditorium. Tickets are $20, available through mcedd.org.