Course Overview

Entrepreneurial & Small Business Development Strategies focuses on practical ways communities can support small business growth and entrepreneurship. Participants examine how local business ecosystems, support organizations, access to capital, technical assistance, and community partnerships can help businesses start, stabilize, and grow.

Course Focus and Learning Outcomes

Participants will examine how to:

• Understand the role of small businesses in local economic development
• Assess small business needs, barriers, and opportunities
• Strengthen local support systems and resource networks
• Connect entrepreneurs and small businesses to financing, technical assistance, and peer support
• Align small business development with broader community and economic goals

Who May Benefit Most

This course is open to all participants and may be especially useful for professionals working with entrepreneurs, small businesses, downtown districts, neighborhood businesses, chambers, community partners, or local business support programs.

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.