ED Now

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 ...

Diana Goss, MBA, EDP, executive director of the DeKalb County (Ala.) Entrepreneurial Center, 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? I pursued the EDP credential to develop a strong foundation in and understanding of entrepreneurship for my new career at the DeKalb County Entrepreneurial Center. How will your EDP credential support your community's economic recovery? First, we are starting a countywide ...

Brett Doney, CEcD, EDP, FM, president and CEO of the Great Falls (Mont.) Development Authority, is part of the first 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? Thirty-eight years into my economic development career, I’m still eager to learn new things that enable me to help generate more economic impact in the community and region my EDO serves. Ongoing professional development and continuous improvement are core values of our ...

Courtney Zaugg, CEcD, EDP, founder of Plaka + Associates, is part of the first 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 journey as both an entrepreneur and an economic development consultant, I deeply understand the importance of investing in long-term entrepreneurship strategies to support sustainable and equitable economic growth. The EDP credential elevates the importance of entrepreneurship as an economic development ...

At IEDC’s 2022 Leadership Summit, Right to Start CEO Victor Hwang spoke about how to encourage entrepreneurship and increase startup growth in cities across the United States. He presented startling facts about U.S. startups, barriers entrepreneurs face, and actions to end the “startup slump”. Hwang pointed out several aspects of startups and entrepreneurship that policymakers often miss. For one, startups and young businesses are not just clustered in the tech sector, but can be found in nearly every business area. These businesses account for a large portion of U.S. net job growth and are major contributors to real GDP and wage growth. Hwang also emphasized that the number of U.S. startups has dropped significantly in ...

ED Now asked IEDC board members to tell us their New Year’s resolutions. What are your resolutions for 2022? Share them with us! Ron Kitchens, CEcD, senior partner and chief executive officer, Birmingham (Ala.) Business Alliance: Our resolution is to challenge and change our best every day. Yesterday’s plans, programs, and execution belong in the past. The future of economic development is about being an agent of change, not a victim of change. David A. Leezer, CEcD, FM, vice president of business attraction, Wichita Falls (Texas) Chamber of Commerce: Be more focused on the key issues important to the success of our strategy and avoid the stuff that takes away from that strategy. Read 15 books. Make Wichita Falls ...

At the start of the pandemic, the Pierce County (Wash.) Economic Development Department quickly pivoted its focus to assist small businesses that were struggling to survive. Those efforts resulted in effective and efficient distribution of $46.5 million in CARES Act funding to thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs of which 76 percent were BIPOC-, women-, and veteran-owned. More than 99 percent of these resources went to direct business support and more than 90 percent of applications were approved. By leveraging existing networks in the community, the department was able to provide information and resources to many businesses we would not normally have reached. However, recovery is showing us there is much more to do. In ...

Since the start of the pandemic, Cornerstone Alliance has assisted more than 475 businesses, facilitating more than 300 loans and grants totaling more than $1.7 million—just in Berrien County, Mich. The Berrien County Rent and Mortgage Payment Program (RAMPP) was created to support local businesses—especially those mandated to be closed—by assisting them with monthly rent and mortgage payments. RAMPP was created in partnership with several organizations to offer the most accessible zero-interest loan program available. We created the Move to Michigan program which has been recognized locally, at the state level, and nationwide as an innovative way to increase population. Since launching Move to Michigan in October 2020, ...