BOULDER - What's the impact of recent federal funding cuts on the local economy?

That key question is up for discussion at the 2013 Boulder Economic Summit, being held from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, at the Wolf Law Building on the University of Colorado-Boulder campus.

Speakers also will discuss the role of research universities such as CU-Boulder and Colorado State University as economic drivers as well as how to cultivate more collaboration between research institutions and private-sector companies, among other things.

U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, and U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, both D-Colo., and CU-Boulder chancellor Phil DiStefano are among speakers scheduled at the event.

Federal budget cuts known as "sequestration" that started March 1 are affecting a variety of government and nongovernment programs across the nation. The "sequestration" is the mandatory cuts that cordon off money from programs that may have been authorized to by Congress but now is prohibited from being spent. Cuts are expected to be felt across the economy, Clif Harald, executive director of the Boulder Economic Council, said recently.

The Boulder Economic Council, an arm of the Boulder Chamber, is putting on the event. For more information and to register, go to: http://www.cvent.com/events/2013-boulder-economic-summit/event-summary-d660318a6f5b4a919bdd46de243f4b1c.aspx