ED Now

ED Now recently caught up with Hezron Osano, an IEDC member based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Libraries across the U.S. provide entrepreneur support resources of all kinds, from workshops to networking opportunities to market research. Working with a local library is a good way for small business owners to get the help they need—and a good way for EDOs to enhance the reach and impact of their economic development efforts.

Melissa Meschke, CEcD, EDP, St. Croix (County, Wis.) Economic Development Corporation’s new executive director, recently became a Certified Economic Developer. By passing the rigorous, two-part exam, CEcDs prove their comprehensive knowledge of the field and readiness to tackle economic development challenges. What was the most important thing you learned while earning your CEcD? Learning about real estate development was the most eye-opening and tends to be the subject that comes up the most in conversation. It was the area that I had the least experience in, so the entire subject was great to dive into. How will your CEcD help you in your work? Much of my background is in entrepreneurship, so the CEcD really helped expand my ...

The 2023 Survey of Rural Challenges found that rural residents were twice as likely to say that they were optimistic about their community’s future than pessimistic. The survey also uncovered big disconnects between what rural residents want and what services and assistance are commonly offered to them.

Kristin Slice, EDP, director of community entrepreneurship for the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University, is part of the third 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? Entrepreneurs deserve the best resources and support we can offer—they are the heartbeat of our economy. I take every course and certification I can. It gives me the tools and insight to help our team and community ...

Kevin Crowder, CEcD, EDP, founder of BusinessFlare Economic Development Solutions, is part of the third 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? In my experience, entrepreneurship has become the most important element of economic development, connecting jobs and talent to placemaking. It is also the least understood area of economic development for practitioners, and I wanted to make sure to stay relevant in this area. I also did it ...

IEDC is accepting submissions through May 30 for the 2023 Excellence and Leadership in Economic Development Awards. The Lafayette (La.) Economic Development Authority’s ArtSpark won a Gold Award in 2022 in the Entrepreneurship category. In 2014 the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) and the Acadiana Center for the Arts collaborated to develop an annual individual artist funding program called ArtSpark. The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities for artists in Acadiana to display the artistic excellence that reflects and represents the diversity of the region while increasing economic opportunities. Artists who apply for the program can request funding ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for expenses related to a ...

Monica Delores Hooks, MBA, EDP, executive director of Atlanta’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI), is part of the third 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? Entrepreneurship is a pillar of economic development. Learning how it fits into the broader economic development landscape, understanding the trends, and fully employing all types of economic development tools to support entrepreneurship in 2023 is ...