For over 35 years, IEDC has provided advisory services, strategic planning, ecosystem building, and training solutions to communities and economic development organizations around the globe. IEDC offers customized economic development advisory services utilizing a toolbox of approaches to meet the unique demands of the community. Our professionals and members merge their technical expertise and extensive economic development experience with innovative approaches to help communities succeed. We work with public and private sector clients in communities large and small from around the globe.
IEDC’s knowledgeable staff work collaboratively with members experienced in a diverse range of economic development topics to provide practical strategies to help communities and organizations address their most pressing economic development challenges. With the ever-changing demands placed on the economic development profession, IEDC’s advisory services team works with communities of all sizes to develop a customized approach.
Albemarle Commission, Hertford, North Carolina Technical Assistance
Through listening tour throughout ten counties and a facilitated discussion with their board of directors, a team of members and IEDC staff provided the Albemarle Commission with a SWOT analysis that would serve as a basis for their CEDS and work plan. This project was funded through a grant by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Atlanta Region.
Box Butte County, Nebraska Technical Assistance
Under a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Denver Region, IEDC advised the Box Butte Development Corporation on an economic resilience action plan that included strategies for economic diversification and strengthening their business retention and expansion program and entrepeneurial ecosystem.
Calvert County, Maryland Technical Assistance
Calvert County, Maryland contracted with IEDC to analyze and sharpen their economic development strategy with a focus on verifying the county has the right target industries for economic development, the right staff expertise and range of services, and an appropriate marketing approach.
City of Minot, North Dakota Technical Assistance—Revitalization of Downtown
The City of Minot, North Dakota contracted with IEDC to advise on strategies to revitalize their downtown core with wider recommendations for the city following severe flooding and an energy industry boom and decline. Additionally, IEDC delivered an introduction to economic development course for local stakeholders.
Salina, Kansas, Technical Assistance to Create a new Economic Development Organization
The City of Salina, County of Saline, Ports Authority and Chamber of Commerce contracted with IEDC to develop a new vision and mission, research and recommend best practices, and develop a governance and funding model for a new economic development organization.
Ecuador Regional Development Agency Assessment and Investment Generation Infrastructure Recommendations
IEDC worked with a team to assess regional economic development organizations in Ecuador with a focus on increasing organizational capacity for regional competitiveness, investment promotion and business attraction. Along with organizational assessment site-visits, the IEDC team held a symposium on good practices in international investment promotion programs and activities. The project included an assessment and review of the investment promotion infrastructure in Ecuadorian regional development agencies and an action plan to develop an investment promotion program in the country.
Initiative to develop and deliver 32 training courses in economic development and resiliency for community leaders in the Mississippi Delta region and a U.S. EDA grant for 21 additional courses
IEDC was contracted under a collaborative agreement with the Delta Regional Authority to create curriculum and then deliver the two courses two times in each of the DRA’s 8 states. The interactive courses teach local elected and appointed leaders how they can become champions in support of a wide range of economic development activities. Following this successful engagement, the U.S. Economic Development Administration subsequently gave IEDC a grant to teach 21 more courses in the Delta region and coal-impacted communities in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Montana. More than 50 courses were taught to some 800+ participants in 18 states with funding by local communities or grants.
Enterprise Florida: Economic Development for Local Leaders
IEDC delivered a virtual training for Enterprise Florida focused on the roles and functions of an economic developer and their local stakeholders and the economic development partners at the local, state and federal levels.
Customized training in Bosnia and Herzegovina
IEDC was sub-contracted by Deloitte Consulting to deliver customized economic development training to local and regional economic development professionals under a USAID contract. The “Economic Development Marketing and Attraction” course, which is part of IEDC’s professional development training program and linked to its Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) program, was customized for local context and delivered by IEDC staff to over 60 professionals chosen from around the country.