I wanted to pass on a great opportunity for economic development training near Tennessee that is coming up soon. The Mid-South Basic Economic Development Course conducted by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Institute for Economic Advancement will be held March 15-18. It is accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and attracts a superlative group of qualified instructors and eager participants.
Info about the course:
Communities face significant challenges in today’s new economy. More than ever, leadership must be prepared to help their communities meet these challenges: to capitalize on new developments, to turn potential obstacles into opportunities, and to enhance the quality of life for those who live, visit, and invest in the area.
The Mid-South Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC) provides this preparation. It offers a general survey of community economic development by focusing primarily on strategies and practices. It is an intensive introduction to the fundamentals of economic development that prepares participants to help their communities meet the competitive challenges they face in fostering economic advancement.
The Mid-South BEDC is designed for stakeholders who participate in the process of community economic development at all scales–local, regional, state, and federal. This includes elected officials, government agency staff, planners, utility and transportation personnel, business leaders, real estate developers, other community volunteers, educators, and chamber or economic development organization professionals and their staff. This rich blend of participants is one of the many benefits of the course.
Another of the important advantages of the Mid-South BEDC is the ability to meet and benefit from the experience of over 20 experts in community economic development. They include consultants, professional economic developers, academicians, utility personnel, and other specialists. The faculty is chosen based on expertise, teaching effectiveness, professional association membership, and diversity. Where possible, Certified Economic Developers (CEcD’s) are used.