EDA News Centre

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Economic Developers Alberta’s (EDA) 2015 Ministry Dinner An Overwhelming Success

The Honourable Deron Bilous, Alberta’s new Economic Development and Trade Minister addresses over 100 economic development professionals gathered to share ideas

October 29, 2015 Edmonton, Alberta- Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) the province’s leading professional organization for economic developers, held its first Ministry Dinner with over 100 community economic development professionals and key government officials in attendance. The purpose of this event is to bring together these decision makers to network, to share information and to explore potential partnerships. 

“Partnering with job creators, entrepreneurs and visionaries to stimulate economic growth and diversification across Alberta is a top priority for our government,” said the Honourable Deron Bilous, Minister of Economic Development and Trade. “This event is a great opportunity for Albertans to come together and talk about ways we can create opportunity and lasting prosperity for our province.” 

EDA also hosted three other Alberta Cabinet Ministers at the 2015 Ministry Dinner:

• The Honourable Oneil Carlier Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
  
• The Honourable David Eggen Minister of Culture and Tourism
  
• The Honourable  Brian Mason Minister of Infrastructure

This event was unique as it followed an interactive format. Throughout the dinner, several participants changed tables at the beginning of each course of their meal. That maximized the opportunities for government representatives and community economic development professionals to share information about various programs and opportunities.

“Our dinner has been an overwhelming success as it provided key decision makers with the forum to connect; aligning with one of EDA’s strategic priorities to equip our province’s economic development professionals with the most current resources and opportunities,” said Leann Hackman-Carty, EDA CEO. “By supporting the leadership role economic developers have in their communities, we also fortify their efforts to create sustainable economies.”

The Federal and Provincial government departments also represented at the 2015 Ministry Dinner:

• Aboriginal Relations
• Agriculture and Forestry
• Advanced Education
• Culture and Tourism
• Economic Development and Trade
• Energy
• Infrastructure
• Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour
• Municipal Affairs
• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Industry Canada
• Office of Small and Medium Enterprises
• Service Canada
• Trade Commissioner Service
• Western Economic Diversification Canada

Representatives from 60 Alberta communities and organizations were also in attendance. 

Miller Thomson LLP is the sponsor of the 2015 Ministry Dinner.

Read About Economic Developers Alberta

To arrange an interview please contact:

Nancy Toombs Marketing/Communications Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) tel: 403-874-7438 nancy.toombs@edaalberta.ca

Shannon Greer Press Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade tel: 587-594-0132

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This is a reminder that the deadline to purchase an Ad in EDA's 2016 Edition of Invest in Alberta is coming up quickly. 

Friday, October 16 is the official deadline; act now so you don't miss out. 

Municipalities, town and cities that are EDA members and that have purchased advertising space of 1/2 or full page in full colour will be offered matching advertorial to highlight their messages.  

With a circulation of 15,000, our Invest in Alberta publication will reach a powerful and influential audience interested in expansion, relocation and new markets. Your message will be seen by key decision makers seeking products, serves suppliers and partners.

To learn more about the 2016 Edition of Invest in Alberta and to purchase your Ad space please contact Anita McGillis directly at: (4O3) 228-4337x 229  Email:amcgillis@venturepublishing.ca

The publication date for Invest in Alberta is December 2015.

Imagine a small town street with many empty storefronts, in a rural community that just lost a major manufacturer. Best to just keep it quiet and try to fill those storefronts one-by-one, right? 

NO! 

Join EDA for our next Marketing Master's webinar to learn how rural communities are turning negatives into positives and redefining themselves and their communities in the process. 

Turning Rural Negatives into Positives - Rural Economic Development
Tuesday, October 20
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Online

Read about the webinar and Register here

Panelists Becky McCray and Deb Brown kicked off an idea for small towns and started filling those buildings. Now Deb and Becky are creating a how-to Tour Kit to help others.

Bring your questions. Bring your team. Don’t miss the opportunity to address your community’s economic future.

Grab your lunch and your colleagues and join EDA and Executive Pulse in another FREE training webinar with our AlbertaBusinessCounts Program. 

Getting the Most From Reports
Friday, October 16
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Register here

Free

This session will explore both predefined and user defined reports and analytics.

We recommend you sign up for AlbertaBusinessCounts as it is an excellent tool for your business retention and expansion strategy.  It is designed to give your community a consistent method for gathering data needed to identify and analyze business needs at the local, regional and provincial level. Click here to see the communities who are using AlbertaBusinessCounts.

EDA holds the provincial master license for Executive Pulse, a software designed to collect and analyze data on existing industries in Alberta. A special licensing agreement enables EDA to make this software available to economic development organizations at a reduced price. We have partnered with Executive Pulse for a series of webinars in 2015. 

A reminder EDA's Business and Investment Attraction course begins in one week. EDA Members have a special perk, you are eligible to receive a 50% rebate on your tuition. Simply register for the course, send your receipt to admin@edaalberta.ca to receive your rebate. 

You don't want to miss this opportunity to learn the skills necessary to develop business investment strategies that will help your community expand its economic base.

Business and Investment Attraction (B&IA)
October  13 - November 10 (for a total of 15 hours)
Online

Read more about the course and Register here

This course is eligible for credits towards the Management Certificate-Economic Developers offered through the University of Calgary in conjunction with EDA. It can also be applied to your Ec.D designation.

 As you know, EDA's Community Economic Development Training Program (CEDTP) helps your competitive advantage by offering a variety of courses designed to deliver information on the best practices and established tools you can use to help your region thrive.

#EDAOnline 

What characteristics do you consider most important for Alberta's royalty framework?  If you're in Calgary,  join the Community Engagement Session:

Alberta Royalty Review Panel's Public Session 
October 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

 Calgary TELUS Convention Centre in the TELUS rooms 104-106.

This drop-in style session with a presentation at 6:30 p.m. will offer several stations where the public can learn about the review ask questions of subject matter experts and add their voice to the conversation. 

Whether you're in the energy industry or not, the panel wants to hear from as many individual Albertans as possible. 

Visit  letstalkroyalties.ca over the next two months. The panel will use the website to ask a series of questions and provide updates on what is being heard across the province. Consider going to the webpage early to be a part of every stage of the conversation.

Connect with the Panel on social media: follow the Panel on Twitter and Facebook.

A strong turnout of Albertans, in person and online, will be good for this review process and the Panel looks forward to hearing from you.

A reminder that Thursday is EDA's next webinar in its Marketing Master's series: How to Influence Site Location Decisions in a Talent Shortage.

Thursday September 24
12:00-1:30 pm MST

Read about the webinar and Register Here

We often hear about the skill gap and labour issues. Find out what you and your organization can do to turn this challenge into an opportunity.  

EDA is proud to be part of the AUMA/AMSC Conference September 23-25 at the Telus Convention Centre. Drop by and see us at booth #402.

Board members Court Ellingson, Sara Chamberlain and Bev Thornton will be there at various times throughout the conference to tell you about the work we are doing. There will also be a few items for you to take home!

 See you next week.

Register now for the International Economic Development Council's (IEDC) Workforce Development Strategies Course in Edmonton October 29-30.

The early bird deadline is TODAY

IEDC Workforce Development Strategies Course

October 29-30, 2015
Matrix Hotel, Edmonton

Register here

Skilled workers are the backbone of a productive and efficient economy. Investigate the strong relationship between economic and workforce development through case studies, practical examples, and current research. Learn about what collaborative programs will help upgrade the skills of your community’s existing workforce. 

You will also learn about the collaborative programs will help upgrade the skills of your community’s existing workforce. Other topics of discussion will include: talent attraction, K-12 development, and integration, occupational analysis, and target industry clusters. 

With this course you are eligible to earn credits toward your CEcD certification.

Don't miss out!

To download the flyer click here.

For specific questions call 202-223-7800

EDA has a couple of professional development opportunities to tell you about:

1) All EDA members receive a 50% rebate on the registration of our Business and Investment Attraction (B&IA) course. 

Business and Investment Attraction (B&IA)
October  13 - November 10 (for a total of 15 hours)
Online Read more about the course and Register here

An effective investment strategy is essential to the practice of economic development. This course will equip you with the tools necessary to develop business investment strategies that will help your community expand its economic base. 

Simply register then send your receipt to admin@edaalberta.ca to receive your rebate. 

This course is eligible for credits towards the Management Certificate-Economic Developers offered through the University of Calgary in conjunction with EDA. It can also be applied to your Ec.D designation.

2)  Please join the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities and the Battle River Alliance for Economic Development for Alberta's Premiere Forum for rural knowledge exchange and network development.

The Rural Alberta Innovation & Learning (RAIL) Commons 
October 2-4 Augustana Campus, Camrose AB

Read more and register here

The RAIL Commons has been developed in partnership, to provide rural practitioners, CAOs, EDOs, Municipally Elected Officials, and others interested in community and economic development, with a strong foundation for understanding how to practice economic development in rural communities. Many sessions will provide workshop-like offerings, that can be translated to real-life practice within your rural community!