Monday, September 21

7:30 a.m. - Registration/Breakfast

8:00 a.m. - Economic Development;
A Historical Perspective
The role of the economic professional has
dramatically changed over the years. To
better understand this ever-changing role,
we will look at where we came from, what
do we do, and who we are today. Furthermore,
we will focus on areas of improvement
that need to be faced, and the new
roles economic developers are facing.

9:00 a.m. - Influence of the Global
Economy on Economic Development
You’ve heard of the “global economy”, but
what is it? This session will address the
global economy, what it is, how it influences
business and how economic developers
need to adapt to assist business with the
challenges of the global economy.

10:00 a.m. - Case Study Introduction

11:00 a.m. - Strategic Planning

12:00 p.m. - Lunch

1:00 p.m. - Strategic Planning
Strategic planning for a community or organization
envisions its future and develops
necessary procedures and actions to achieve
that future. This session will focus on the
background understanding of strategic
planning and its process, how to design &
organize the process, and developing strategies
and formulating action plans.

2:00 p.m. - Entrepreneurship; Small
Business Development
This session will provide an overview of the
role of small business in the U.S. economy,
creation of jobs, a brief profile of the small
business creation process, and an introduction
to the new and emerging areas of small
business creation.

4:00 p.m. - Case Study Work

5:00 p.m. - Adjourn

5:15 p.m. - Reception
This reception is designed to meet instructors,
staff and fellow students in an
informal relaxed environment.

Tuesday, September 22

7:30 a.m. - Registration/Breakfast

8:00 a.m. - Managing an Economic
Development Organization
This session will cover the issues specific to
economic development organizations such
as; working with leaders, developing a vision
for the organization and community,
delegation of available resources to the right
programs and the development of the most
appropriate programs for that organization
and community.

10:00 a.m. - Attraction & Marketing
As an economic developer, it is important
that you have basic knowledge of the marketing
process and its benefits. This session
will focus on the marketing process,
geographic and economic considerations,
suspects vs. prospects, and advertising &
promotion. Also addressed will be market
research and targeting.

12:00 p.m. - Lunch

1:00 p.m. - Retention & Expansion
Business retention and expansion is critical
in today’s economy. The objectives of
this session will include how to organize a
business retention and expansion program.
We will cover how to provide examples
of programs and activities that foster the
growth of existing business, to recommend
strategies helpful in implementing a successful
program, and identify valuable local
resources.

3:00 p.m. - Case Study Work

5:00 p.m. - Adjourn

Wednesday, September 23

7:30 a.m. - Registration/Breakfast

8:00 a.m. - Real Estate Development
and Reuse
In this session, participants will be introduced
to the land development process,
with an emphasis on the role that the economic
developer plays. Participants will
learn about the various tools that are available
at the local level, including tax increment
financing, bonds, land assembly and
eminent domain, in addition to the many
federal programs available.

10:00 a.m. - Financing
This session will focus on several key elements,
including: blending of sources, capital
availability, source of long-term financing,
returns to the lender, and leveraging.
Once we have a better understanding of the
structure, we will then look at the two sectors
in financing: public and private.

12:00 p.m. - Lunch

1:00 p.m. - Case Study Work

4:00 p.m. - Adjourn

Thursday, September 24

7:30 a.m. - Registration/Breakfast

8:00 a.m. - Workforce Development
Workforce development is quickly becoming
the #1 focus for economic development
organizations. A skilled and educated
workforce is crucial in today’s economy.
This interactive session will focus on the
need for the creation of workforce development
programs that address both community
and business needs.

10:00 a.m. - Community Development
This session will provide an understanding
of the steps in the community development
process, and the challenges of community
development in economic development
practice.

12:00 p.m. - Lunch

1:00 p.m. - Case Study Work

2:00 p.m. - Cast Study Presentations

4:00 p.m. - Adjourn