Introduction to Economic Development

Date: October 1-3, 2014
Location: Toronto, ON

This course is held in partnership with Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO).

This course qualifies as a professional development requirement needed to sit for the Certified Economic Developers Exam 

For the first time ever, IEDC is offering a professional development opportunity in Canada for those interested in learning the fundamentals of economic development. Learn from Canadian instructors and use Canadian training manuals – this is truly an opportunity not to be missed!

This comprehensive training course will introduce economic development to highly-engaged participants at all levels of experience. Attendees will learn theoretical and practical perspectives on economic development and be provided with the skills needed to organize, plan, and implement economic growth initiatives.  We’ll cover tools, programs and organizations relevant to the Canadian economic development professional – Industry Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), and more! Those new to economic development are encouraged to take this course first as an overview of the field's key activities.

Course Highlights:

• Economic development credit analysis 
• Business retention and expansion 
• Real estate development and reuse 
• Strategic planning 
• Marketing and business attraction 
• Entrepreneurial and small business development 
• Neighborhood development strategies 
• Technology-led economic development 
• Workforce development and training 
• Ethics in economic development

Instructors:

Neil Everson, CEcD EcD 
Director, Economic Development
City of Hamilton

Neil is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Hamilton, Ontario (Pop. 520,000) a position he has held since 2000. He holds a Masters degree in Economics and undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Urban Geography. He received his Certified Economic Development designation in 1991 and is a Past President of the Economic Development Association of Canada (EDAC).

Jeffrey A. Finkle, CEcD 
President & CEO
International Economic Development Council

Jeffrey Finkle has been a leader in economic development for more than 20 years. In August, 2001 he became the president and CEO of the International Economic Development Council, following IEDC’s birth through the merger of the Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED) with the American Economic Development Council (AEDC). Prior to the merger, Finkle served for 15 years as president and CEO of CUED. 

Lauren Millier 
Principal
Millier Dickinson Blais

Lauren Millier began her career as a senior planner with Toronto firm Walker Wright Young before becoming senior portfolio planner with the Management Board Secretariat and Ontario Realty Corporation. As her work and interests increasingly moved further into the economic development field, Lauren helped launch Millier Dickinson Blais as a vehicle for delivering high-value consulting assistance to communities and organizations wrestling with their shifting roles in a global economy and the challenges and opportunities this can create.

View the course webpage to learn more: http://www.iedconline.org/events/2014/10/01/training-course/training-course-introduction-to-economic-development/