"Tax Policy and Economic Growth" is the theme of the 14th annual Economic Growth Summit, set for Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Coastal Carolina University's Wall Auditorium. The half-day seminar begins at 9 a.m. and continues through noon. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.

Featured keynote speaker Russell Sobel will discuss "Economic Freedom, Tax Policy and Economic Growth," focusing on how communities can achieve long-term prosperity and economic growth. Sobel is the James Clark Coffman Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies at West Virginia University and editor of the book "Unleashing Capitalism: A Prescription for Economic Prosperity in South Carolina."

University of Tennessee professor Steve Morse will address the topic "The Burden of Taxation in Tourism-based Economies." Morse is director of the UT Tourism Institute and associate professor in the Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Walter "Marty" Cummins of Orlando, Fla., a lawyer and business consultant, will speak on "Enlightened Capitalism: An Alternative to Wealth Redistribution through Taxation."

Woody Hall, senior economist for UNCW's Swain Center for Business and Economic Services, and Rob Salvino, research economist for the BB&T Center for Economic and Community Development of CCU's E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration, will discuss the "State of our Regions’ Economies."

The summit is sponsored by the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at Coastal Carolina University and the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

To make reservations, email growthsummit@coastal.edu or call Wendi Lee at 843-349-2284.