PORTLAND — The Maine Real Estate and Development Association will host its Annual Real Estate Forecast Conference and 9th Annual Member Showcase on Jan. 24 at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland.

George Gervais, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, will serve as keynote speaker.

Gervais, along with other leading experts from across Maine, will offer forecasts of what lies ahead for the state’s economy, with particular focus on commercial real estate by region and key market sectors, including office, retail, industrial, residential and multifamily properties.

New this year, MEREDA has partnered with renowned Maine economist Dr. Charles Colgan of USM’s Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service. In addition to delivering his economic forecast for the state of Maine, Colgan will unveil the “MEREDA Index.” This new metric will illustrate the statistical changes and measure the pulse of the commercial real estate industry in Maine, including sale and lease activity, construction starts and other data – for the first time ever, aggregated into one figure as an indicator of this important sector of Maine’s economy.

Supplementing the conference is the member showcase, which provides an opportunity for members to network and market their products and services.

For more information or to register for the event, go to: www.mereda.org.