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Membership Benefits

Make the Most of Your MEDA Membership

MEDA's leadership and staff are committed to ensuring that MEDA members get the most out of their investment. As a valued member, you have access to a range of exclusive benefits designed to enhance your professional growth, networking opportunities, and overall experience.

Whether you are a new or long-time member of MEDA, this page will provide you with quick ways to make the most of your membership.

Professional Society Individual Membership

MEDA membership is individual; not organizational. The benefits of membership are only available to individuals that have joined the membership.

Info Hub

The Info Hub is your one-stop for online member benefits, including accessing member-only content, communicating with other members, updating your Membership Directory listing, and more.

Start Your Info Hub Account:

  1. Click the login icon to the left.
  2. Click "Create One" (bottom/right, next to the Sign In button).
  3. Enter your name and email; the system will recognize your current membership.
  4. You will receive an email to confirm so you can finish the setup process.

Lost Your Password:

Once your account is set up,

  1. You can request a password reset on the login page.
  2. Contact Cassandra at cjorae@medaweb.org if you have any trouble receiving the password change email, and she can manually reset your password for you.

Membership Minute

Review the Weekly Membership Minute Newsletter

The Membership Minute arrives on Monday and provides:

  • News that impacts your work
  • Legislative updates that create awareness of possible policy changes
  • Articles that serve as case studies on using economic development tools or celebrate economic developers and their work
  • Resources including tools with upcoming deadlines, tools that could be a new tool in your economic development strategy, or research reports
  • Training and networking event updates
  • Ideas and reminders for making the most of your membership
  • Job postings
  • New connections in your MEDA network that you can reach out to right away
  • and more ...

Not Getting Your Newsletter?

While MEDA takes precaution to makes sure our emails meet deliverability standards, some company firewalls and email rules are very cautious.

  1. You may need to mark cjorae@medaweb.org as a safe sender.
  2. You may need to mark the medaweb.org domain as a safe sender.
  3. You may need to find MEDA's emails in quarantine, release them, and mark them as safe.
  4. You may need to seek assistance from your email provider or IT team.
  5. All of the newsletter items are incorporated into the website and Info Hub:
    1. News and Resources are in update in the public News and Resources page.
    2. Job Postings, Resources, Legislative Updates, and a Members Directory are in the Info Hub (see above instructions for accessing the Info Hub).
    3. Event updates are posted to our Events Calendar and the Info Hub.

Apply the MEDA Member Event Discount to Your Membership

One of the biggest benefits of membership is getting a registration discount for events. There are a few ways to apply your discount. If you haven't set up your account yet, see Info Hub (above).

Register Via the Info Hub:

  1. Log into your Info Hub account
  2. Click Events
    1. Option 1: Click the "Register Now" icon to the right of the event title (it's right next to the calendar icon).
    2. Option 2: Click the title of each event to learn more.
      1. Click the "Register Now" button.
  3. You can pay while registering or chose the "Invoice" option. Note: Webinars must be paid at time of registration.
    1. If you select the "Invoice" option,
      1. You will get an email with a link to your invoice.
      2. You can also find your invoice in the My Billing Info tab in the Info Hub (there may be a short delay).

Register Via the Event Registration Form

If you are short on time, you can register for any event by entering your email address into the registration form and the system will recognize you as a member.

New Member Coupon:

Each new member receives a coupon that can cover a one-day program or provide a discount to the Annual Meeting or Basic Course.

  • To use your coupon, contact Cassandra at cjorae@medaweb.org for the code for the specific event.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • The coupon must be used within 12 months of joining.
  • You can use it for a webinar or the Emerging Leaders Spring Training, but the coupon cannot be split for multiple events.
  • The coupon cannot be use for certification events outside of the Basic Course.
  • The coupon must be used for the member that it is assigned and cannot be used for other staff.
  • On occasion, members return after a lapsed membership or due to starting a membership with a new organization. Each individual will only be able to use a coupon once every two years.

Registering Other Staff Within Your Organization

As MEDA's memberships are individual and not organizational, there is often well-intended confusion about registering other staff so payments can be made at one time.

  • While you can now register multiple people on the event forms, be sure others that you register are registered under the correct Member/Future Member option.
  • All options are available to everyone because many are registered by a secretary or other member, so even though the option is present to register a person as a member, they might not be a member.
  • If you're not sure of an individuals membership status, contact Cassandra at cjorae@medaweb.org.

Access the Membership Directory

Use the Membership Directory to build your connections in Michigan's economic development community.

Find the Membership Directory:

  1. Log into your Info Hub account (see above instructions for accessing the Info Hub).
  2. Click Membership Directory.

Update Your Membership Directory Listing:

  1. Log into your Info Hub account.
  2. Go to My Directory Listing.
  3. Click the pencil or + icons to change information.
  4. The "Membership Directory" is only for MEDA Members and has contact information as well as the opportunity to share more about yourself.

Tips and Ideas for Building Connections Among the MEDA Members

Connects are vital to successful economic development,and it is common for members to want to build their network.

  1. Attend events regularly.
    1. Use the Attendee Roster to make as many connections as possible.
    2. Feel free to ask the MEDA staff for help finding someone.
  2. Be featured in the Meet a MEDA Member section of our newsletter.
  3. Use the Membership Directory to connect with fellow members on LinkedIn or via email.
    1. Select "Seeking Connections" in the Directory under My Info.
    2. Keep your LinkedIn account updated.
  4. Volunteer on a Committee.
  5. Send your news for our newsletter's MEDA Members Making It Happen portion.
    1. Feel free to tag Michigan Economic Developers Association or Cassandra Jorae on LinkedIn or Michigan Economic Developers Association on Facebook.
  6. Ask for a mentor through the Mentorship Connection program.
  7. Contact Cassandra at cjorae@medaweb.org. She and the Membership Committee will see how we can make connections for you.

Access Legislative Updates

A list of running economic development legislative updates for the current term is available in the Info Hub, updated weekly.

The weekly Membership Minute newsletter will have updates from the week, but the web pages have running updates from the entire term.

Find Legislative Updates:

  1. Log into your Info Hub account
  2. Click Resources
  3. Click either the House or Senate Legislation folders
  4. Click the page link within the folder selected

Access Economic Development Position Openings

Economic development job postings have long been a benefit to members of MEDA who want to grow in their careers or seek to build skills in a different area of the profession.

Now, you can post jobs without reaching out to a MEDA staff first.

Find Job Postings:

  1. Log into your Info Hub account (see above instructions for accessing the Info Hub)
  2. Click Jobs.

OR

  1. Visit the Job Postings page.

While job postings are now public, MEDA members are still the first to be notified via email of the postings and organizations with MEDA members receive a discount for posting.

Post Job:

  1. Login into your Info Hub account (see above instructions for accessing the Info Hub)
  2. Click Jobs.
  3. Click Add.
  4. Complete fields and pay.
  5. MEDA staff will be notified, send an e-blast to the entire membership, and add the posting to the Membership Minute newsletter each week until the position is filled or the posting expires.
  6. If you need an invoice before posting, contact Cassandra at cjorae@medaweb.org.

Need to Post a Job?

Access MEDA Forum Via the Info Hub to Help A Fellow MEDA Member or Network

Use the Forum on the Info Hub to seek Help from fellow MEDA members, Help other MEDA members, or build your network.

Find the Forum:

  1. Login into your Info Hub account (see above instructions for accessing the Info Hub)
  2. Click Forum

Post a New Topic:

  1. Click a sub-topic on the right of the Forum page
  2. Click Add New Topic
  3. Title the discussion item in a way that is very specific, but short, for example: "Seeking Advice on ... " or "Sample Evaluation of ... ".
  4. Attach any documents
  5. Click Publish (or leave as a draft to finish later)
  6. Click Done

Got a Cool Idea for a New Forum Topic?

Access Helpful Resources Via the Info Hub

Use the Resources area on the Info Hub to find resources that help you with your work. This ever-expanding area will be a gathering place for member-requested resources, an economic development salary survey, informational reports, and links to economic development tools.

Find the Forum:

  1. Login into your Info Hub account (see above instructions for accessing the Info Hub)
  2. Click Resources

Got an Idea for a Resource?

  1. Contact Cassandra at cjorae@medaweb.org.

When and How to Pay for Membership Renewal

When it comes time for renewal, prompt payment of your membership saves time and follow-up effort for MEDA staff. Payment reminders take away from time that could be used to focus on programs and services.

If you don't see your invoice via email containing a link to pay, you can access it via your Info Hub account. Please mark your calendar accordingly.

Find Your Membership Invoice:

  1. Login to your Info Hub account (see above instructions for accessing the Info Hub)
  2. Click My Billing Info to find open invoices that you can download or pay online
  3. To find renewal month: Click Autopay and Billing under My Billing Info to see when your next membership invoice will be generated
    1. Set up Autopay (optional)

Invoices are typically generated on the first day of your renewal month and sent via email.

Questions?

Scholarship and Fellowship

Financial Assistance for Training

MEDA has two programs that provide assistance to economic developers that would otherwise not be able to attend training due to a lack of financial resources.

Our Scholarship Program is available throughout the year for qualifying MEDA member applicants.

The Birgit M. Klohs Fellowship is available to women and minorities who are pursuing a career in economic development.

How to Apply?

  • Follow the links for guidelines and directions for each.

Economic Development Book

Get a Free Copy of the Economic Development Methods and Strategies Book

MEDA published the Economic Development Methods and Strategies Book in 2005 and it still serves as a great resource in many economic development offices.

Request Your Copy

Request a Mentor

Meet With a Mentor to Build Your Knowledge and Connections

Learning from experienced economic developers is crucial for emerging leaders. That is why MEDA's Emerging Leaders Committee developed this free, volunteer program, that pairs students and early-career economic developers with experienced leaders.

Need a Mentor?

NOTE: If you've been in economic development for a while and are ready to help others grow in the profession, you can serve as a mentor. Contact Cassandra to be added to the list of available mentors.

Recertification Credits

Earn EDFP or CEcD Credits or Recertification Credits by Attending MEDA Events

MEDA recognizes that Michigan's economic developers seek certification to advance their careers and provides some ways for them to earn credit or recertification credit by attending our events.

  • Michigan's Economic Development Basic Course is the first step toward the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation through the International Economic Development Council. We hold this course each year in September.
  • MEDA applies to have its one-day conferences and Michigan's Premier Economic Summit and Annual Meeting qualify for recertification credits for CEcD's and Economic Development Finance Professionals (EDFP's). EDFP is provided by Grow America. MEDA webinars also qualify for half an point towards the EDFP recertification.
  • In September of 2025, MEDA hosted a CEcD Exam Prep webinar with information about getting certified and feedback on taking the exam from certified leaders in our membership. The recording of that webinar is now available for free to members in the Info Hub's Complimentary Webinar Recording folder under Resources.

Enhance Your Membership by Joining a Committee or Task Force

Volunteering on a committee or task force is not only rewarding, good for the resume, and a powerful networking method, it is also a requirement for receiving scholarships and increases a members' chances of being on the Board of Directors.

MEDA has seven active committees and taskforces that address issues, provide services, expand knowledge, and create opportunities for relationship-building for our members.

  • Advocacy Committee
  • Education Committee
  • Emerging Leaders Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Golf Outing Committee
  • Membership Committee
  • Housing Taskforce

About Committee Service:

  • A majority of meetings are held via Zoom. All in-person meetings have a call-in option with a Zoom option if the space allows.
  • If you join a committee, we'll send a calendar notice with everything you need.
  • You can request minutes from previous meetings to get caught up.
  • You are welcome to sit in on meetings to see if a committee is right for you.

Ready to Volunteer?

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