Community Economic Development as a Career

Why choose Community Economic Development as a career?

• It is collaborative, fast-paced and creative

• Gives you the opportunity to be a catalyst for change by working with government and the private sector to build healthy sustainable communities

• You have a hand in creating local economic opportunities while improving quality of life

What are some important skills of community economic developers? 

• Communication
• Flexibility
• Strategic Thinking
• Strategic Planning
• Leadership
• Team Building 

What factors are involved in Community Economic Development? 

• Community
• Wealth Creation
• Mobilization of Resources
• Human Resources
• Financial and Capital Resources
• Physical Resources
• Natural Resources
• Marketable Goods and Services

What are some careers in economic development? 

• Economic Development Officers
• Managers of local or regional economic development organizations
• Business development specialists with municipalities or industry organizations
• Tourism or recreation specialists

What does an Economic Development Officer (EDO) do?

• Conduit to the local business community with the ability to support, encourage and advise local businesses
• Works closely with the planning department and Council to ensure an understanding and awareness of economic development
• Strives to have key decision makers part of creating a ‘pro-business’ environment

• Should be the most knowledgeable person regarding community assets, and should be the number one sales person to internal and external markets

• Possesses critical thinking, great people skills, strong business background, good problem solving skills 

• Knows how to link to municipal, provincial and global economic development resources

• Liaison between the economic development committee and/or community

• Supports, encourages, and advises local businesses

• Without a large support staff, the EDO must be able to work effectively with volunteers

• Works to build community capacity

What training is needed?

• Knowledge and skills can be enhanced through professional development and University programs. 
• EDA offers the Community Economic Development Training Program(CEDTP); courses designed for economic development practitioners, decision makers such as elected officials and the business community. 
• Completion of these courses can be applied to the Professional Management Certificate-Economic Developers at the University of Calgary; the Certified Economic Developer Ec.D; or the CeCD Certified by the International Economic Developers Council. 
• Economic Development Officer (EDO) training is available through several Canadian institutions such as the University of Waterloo. 

Read more about Professional Certification here.