Program Details & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Arizona Sustainable Economic Development Learning Lab?
The Arizona Sustainable Economic Development Learning Lab is a professional development program designed to equip economic development leaders in Arizona with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to integrate sustainable strategies into their work. The program consists of an in-person kick-off convening, six interactive modules, a capstone project, and a final in-person convening.
The Arizona Sustainable Economic Development Learning Lab is a professional development program designed to equip economic development leaders in Arizona with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to integrate sustainable strategies into their work. The program consists of an in-person kick-off convening, six interactive modules, a capstone project, and a final in-person convening.
Who is this program for?
The program is designed for Arizona-based economic development leaders, including:
- Economic development professionals
- Community business leaders
- Non-profit leaders
- Other stakeholders involved in local and regional economic development
What are the goals of the program?
The program aims to:
- Educate participants on the practice of sustainable economic development.
- Build a community of practice among Arizona economic development leaders.
- Drive the implementation of sustainable economic development strategies.
- Convene representatives from different communities across the state of Arizona.
What is the format of the program?
- A full-day in-person session, followed by three virtual sessions, and culminating in a final in-person convening for capstone presentations and leadership roundtables.
- Capstone project: Participants will develop a feasible strategy to advance sustainable economic development in their community.
What will the program cover and what are the session dates?
- April 17 (Full-Day, In-Person - Phoenix, AZ) - Kickoff & Modules 1-3
- Module 1: Intro to Sustainable Economic Development: Understanding climate risks and opportunities
- Module 2: Key Elements of Sustainable Economic Development: Tools, frameworks, and funding sources
- Module 3: Sustainable Economic Development Communications: Building support for action across a range of audiences
- May 8 - Virtual Session; 1:00 - 3:00pm MST
- Module 4: Sustainable Development for People: Workforce and community development principles
- June 5 - Virtual Session; 11:00am - 1:00pm MST
- Module 5: Leveraging Resources to Advance Projects: Federal, state, and local programs, and public-private partnerships
- July–August Capstone Project Work / Virtual Support from Project Team
- September 11 - Virtual Session: 11:00am - 1:00pm MST
- Module 6: Making it Count: Evaluation and planning for sustainable development
- October 14 (Full-Day In-Person - Phoenix, AZ) – Capstone Presentations & Graduation
What is the capstone project?
The capstone project is a hands-on opportunity for participants to apply what they’ve learned. Participants will develop a strategy or intervention to advance sustainable economic development in their community. They will receive project-specific support and advising throughout the program. Joint capstone projects can be completed with a partner organization.
How much does it cost to participate?
The registration fee is $300 per participant. This includes access to all sessions, materials, and the capstone project support. Accepted participants will receive billing information. The fee is subsidized thanks to the generous support of our funders.
Are there any credits or certifications offered?
Yes, participants will be eligible to receive both:
- Three (3) Level 1 credits through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) towards their Certified Economic Development Professional certification (IEDC membership is not required to participate in this program), and/or
- One (1) Grey credit towards completion of the Arizona Economic Development Professional (AZED Pro) certification.
Who can I contact for more information?
For additional questions, please contact Delaney Luna at [email protected]
About the Organizations
C2ES’s mission is to secure a safe and stable climate by accelerating the global transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and a thriving, just, and resilient economy. We work with policymakers and leading businesses to forge durable, effective, and ambitious solutions to climate and energy challenges. With more than twenty years of experience conducting rigorous analysis, forging practical and innovative solutions to address climate change, and engaging with leading businesses to accelerate climate progress, C2ES is known worldwide as a thought leader and trusted convener on climate change and energy. We consistently rank among the world’s leading environmental policy think tanks in the University of Pennsylvania Global Go To Think Tank Index. To build resilience to climate impacts, C2ES convenes stakeholders to identify strategies and policies to help communities adapt to climate change, and to demonstrate how and where climate resilience boosts economic competitiveness.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,500 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers typically work for cities, counties, states, public-private partnerships, and chambers of commerce and promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base. In addition to its membership and professional development offerings, IEDC's technical assistance and research programs inform best practices in areas such as entrepreneurship, equitable economic development, and economic recovery and resilience.
Prosperity Strategies partners with communities and regions to implement successful economic development strategies. Its founder, Randall Kempner, is a leading advocate and practitioner of climate-smart economic development. He has recently participated in climate-related economic development workshops at the IEDC and Texas Economic Development Council conferences and was a board member of the Climate Prosperity Project, an effort in the 2000s to promote climate-smart economic development initiatives. He is formerly the VP of Regional Innovation at the US Council on Competitiveness, where he helped design and implement the Workforce Development in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) and Clusters of Innovation initiatives. Most recently he served as a senior advisor to the Aspen Institute’s Energy and Environment Program.
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