The first regional and strategic guidance workshops to contribute to the 2013 NCA were held in Chicago in February 2010. The purpose of this meeting was to present stakeholders in the Midwest region with an opportunity to provide input to the development of the strategic plan for the next National Climate Assessment (NCA). The meeting was organized around discussions of (1) up-to-date climate information for the U.S. and for the Midwest, setting the stage for subsequent conversations (2) key sectoral and regional issues and questions, including sources of vulnerability (3) options available to address adaptation and mitigation issues and associated barriers and information needs, and (4) input regarding development of the regional components and stakeholder engagement methods of the NCA.