University of Wisconsin - Extension

A new three-and-a-half day course sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Extension Center for Community and Economic Development, in partnership with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, will offer training in the fundamentals of economic development.

The “Wisconsin Basic Economic Development Course” (Wisconsin Basic Course) is designed for new professionals entering the field of economic development, municipal and county staff, elected officials, bankers, village and city administrators and others involved in economic development at the local, state or county level.

The main objective of the new course is to provide a quality introduction to the field of economic development, including instruction in nine core competencies considered fundamental to the field. The course will be offered at the Pyle Center in Madison, Wisconsin beginning Monday, November 10, 2008 through Thursday, November 13, 2008. It will be repeated in 2009.

The Wisconsin Basic Economic Development Course fulfills one of the introductory prerequisites for professional economic developers who wish to pursue the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

Other partners of the course include the Wisconsin Bankers Association, the Wisconsin Technical College System, the Local Government Institute, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, the Counties Association and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and Department of Workforce Development.

As part of the course, instructors will use interactive and small-group sessions to teach nine core sessions on:

--Business Retention and Expansion

--Managing an Economic Development Organization

--Strategic Planning

--Workforce Development

--Economic Development Finance

--Real Estate Development and Reuse

--Community and Neighborhood Development

--Small Business and Entrepreneurship

--Attraction and Marketing

The course costs $625 per participant. (An “early bird” rate of $575 is available if registration is received by September 15, 2008). Scholarships may be available through course sponsors and partners. For additional course information or to register go to http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced