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IEDC is proud to offer professional development scholarships such as the Diane Lupke Scholarship and the Melissa Nebelsick Scholarship for Women. Application forms and all requested materials—including a current resume and organizational training budget—are due Friday, September 1. The Diane Lupke Scholarship Fund The Diane Lupke Scholarship Fund offers four scholarships (two for IEDC members and two for non-members) to be applied toward the registration fee of an IEDC training course of the recipient's choice. The value for each scholarship is approximately $500. Scholarship applicants should work for an organization that is based in a distressed community. Examples include, but are not limited to, community-based ...

IEDC’s 2023 Leadership Summit will be held next week in Tucson, Arizona. A few of our conference speakers and sponsors shared some exciting economic development projects happening in the region.

Mark Weldon, MBA, EDP, small business programs administrator for the City of Raleigh (N.C.), is part of the second cohort of certified Entrepreneurship Development Professionals. IEDC’s EDP credential is designed to build capacity for those supporting entrepreneurship in their communities, and demonstrates the skills and expertise to lead communities through entrepreneurship-led economic development (ELED). Why did you decide to pursue the EDP credential? Small businesses have long been a passion of mine, with the contagious optimism that springs from the entrepreneurial mindset. I have worked with and supported local Main Street businesses and organizations for the past 14 years, and worked in and around small businesses long ...

IEDC offers two professional development scholarships, the Diane Lupke Scholarship and the Melissa Nebelsick Scholarship for Women. Application forms and all requested materials—including a current resume and organizational training budget—are due Friday, October 28. The Diane Lupke Scholarship Fund The Diane Lupke Scholarship Fund offers four scholarships (two for IEDC members and two for non-members) to be applied toward the registration fee of an IEDC training course of the recipient's choice. The value for each scholarship is approximately $500. Scholarship applicants should work for an organization that is based in a distressed community. Examples include, but are not limited to, community-based organizations, Main ...

IEDC’s 2022 Economic Future Forum will be held next month in Richardson, Texas. A few of our conference sponsors shared some exciting economic development projects happening in the North Dallas cities of Richardson, Addison, and Allen.

IEDC will kick off 2022 by focusing on strengthening our communities, attracting new industries, and advancing equitable economic growth. The Leadership Summit will concentrate on diversification—strengthening what we have by diversifying existing economic drivers, diversifying the regional economy and attracting new industries, and diversifying to advance equitable and inclusive growth for disadvantaged and underserved populations.

A recent webinar on bringing back downtown retail after COVID-19 outlined strategies to revive downtowns, including smaller downtowns. The pandemic was not an “extinction-level event” for downtowns, said Michael J. Berne, president of MJB Consulting, adding that “it’s been quite striking how well they’ve gotten through this.” The unique, often historic location of downtowns can protect downtown retailers from e-commerce. E-commerce is more of a threat to shopping centers than to downtowns, according to Berne. Smaller downtowns are more tied to a town’s overall economic well-being and subject to a smaller population and labor force. N. David Milder, founding editor of The American Downtown ...

The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) and the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) have partnered to launch My Main Street, a $23.25-million, two-year program funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario to support the recovery and revitalization of main streets and local businesses. Main streets play a major role in supporting the economic, cultural, and social cohesion of communities by serving as places where people gather and socialize. My Main Street, also known as Ma Rue Principale, consists of two programs. EDCO will lead a program to revitalize 65 main street communities by supporting 975 local businesses with main street ambassadors, direct business grants, market research, and business support ...