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IEDC’s Entrepreneurship Development Professional (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). Seven professionals passed the EDP exam held this month.

IEDC’s Entrepreneurship Development Professional (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). Fourteen professionals passed the EDP exam held in October.

With more than 22 years of experience in business, organizational, and economic development, Terri May Peters, business development manager for Claremore (Okla.) Industrial and Economic Development Authority, always seeks opportunities to grow her professional knowledge, network, and skill set to better serve the local community. And with more than 80% of businesses in Rogers County employing fewer than 10 individuals, the small business sector is a driving force for the area's economy. IEDC’s Entrepreneurship Development Professional certification provided the perfect opportunity for Peters to ensure she had the skills needed to provide local small businesses with the tools, training, resources, and relationships needed to be ...

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 ...

Katherine Long, EDP, small business and information manager for Ponca City (Okla.) Development Authority (PCDA), 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? Working with startups and small businesses has always been a passion for me, even before joining the PCDA staff in 2006. Our executive director encouraged me to pursue the EDP credential during the pandemic, and I am so glad that I did. Going through the EDP ...

IEDC has secured a new grant to continue to expand our Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development (ELED) work. This National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines grant, as a subcontractor to Augusta (Ga.) University, will promote ELED and entrepreneurial ecosystem building. The two-year, $100,000 grant compliments IEDC’s work through our Kauffman Foundation grant. Projects under the new grant will include creating a technical assistance panel focused on ecosystem building, and holding focus groups and workshops to help build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Augusta region. The university has discussed setting aside some of its budget for entrepreneurial ecosystem stakeholders in the region to participate in IEDC's ELED ...

Pursuing the EDP (Entrepreneurship Development Professional) credential for me was an important part of exploring the entrepreneurial ecosystem-building discipline and continuing to hone how the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute leads the inclusive expansion of the discipline in its mission to collaboratively serve the communities in which Arizona State University has a presence. The credential expanded my knowledge of traditional economic development practices and grew my network of ecosystem building professionals, which has helped me be a more effective change agent. Many of the communities I serve are in a nascent or even pre-nascent ecosystem stage, so it is vitally important to maintain an entrepreneurial mindset ...

Bill Sabo, EDP, CPPM, regional director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, 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? Fort Smith used to be a major manufacturing hub with Trane, Whirlpool, and several other large employers. In the past decade most have moved out, taking thousands of jobs with them that aren’t coming back. The EDP ...