Elected Officials have a critical role to play in the economic, political and social well being of their communities. With this Elected Officials Course, EDA is giving these community leaders a unique opportunity to understand the complex and competitive field of economic development; as well as the tools to help the economic developers in their communities to be successful. Download the brochure here.

The Elected Officials course provides specialized information on the strategies, tools and resources needed to help their communities thrive. It delivers information on:

• The role and function of community economic development;
• The principles and theories of economic development;
• Roles - How elected officials and economic development committees fit into these functions: governance vs. operations;
• Foundational elements of a community strategic plan and how it links to an economic development strategic plan;
• The various types of economic development strategies such as business investment, tourism development, business retention and expansion, leveraging public and private partnerships, etc.; and,
• Best practices relevant to rural and urban municipalities.  

Format: We currently offer this course in three formats: In-Person, Virtual, and Online.