Course Overview

Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development examines how communities can support entrepreneurs, small businesses, and local business growth as part of a broader economic development strategy. Participants explore the systems, partnerships, resources, and local conditions that help entrepreneurs start, grow, and remain connected to place.

Course Focus and Learning Outcomes

Participants will examine how to:

• Understand the role of entrepreneurship in local and regional economic development
• Assess the strengths and gaps within an entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Support founders, small businesses, and second-stage companies
• Build partnerships among resource providers, funders, educators, and community organizations
• Align entrepreneurship support with broader economic development goals

Who May Benefit Most

This course is open to all participants and may be especially useful for professionals working on small business support, entrepreneurship, ecosystem building, business retention, downtown development, rural development, or inclusive economic growth.

Registration (Opens December 2026)

Professional Development Credits

Attendance and participation during all sessions of the training course is required by a registrant to obtain the following credits. 

• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)
  • Exam = Core Requirement
  • Recertification = (3) Level-1 Points
    
    
• Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP)
  • Exam = Elective Requirement
  • Recertification = (3) Level-1 Points

Note: IEDC will send a registrant an electronic certificate of completion after the course for their records.

Questions

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call (202) 223-7800.

Policies

Please read the following policies carefully prior to registering for the training course.

Materials

The materials provided by IEDC are intended for use only by the registrant of the training course. A registrant should not share the training course materials with anyone else.

A registrant found in violation of this policy will be removed from the training course immediately and will not receive a refund for it.

Payment

A registrant will not receive the materials for the training course until IEDC receives the full amount owed for their registration.

Substitution

A registrant is not allowed to substitute a colleague in their place for any IEDC training course.

Cancellation

Please review our cancellation policy here.

No Show

A registrant is considered a “No Show” if they fail to send a cancellation email and/or do not attend the training course. A “No Show” registrant will forfeit any monies paid to IEDC for the training course.