EDA News Centre

This is a reminder that the deadline is approaching for the special advertising rate for EDA Members for the 2017 edition of Invest in Alberta. 

If you book your ad before Wednesday, May 18, you will receive a 10% discount. See the rate card here. 

Now more than ever, entrepreneurs and decision makers around the world need to understand Alberta's potential for growth in our diverse industries. With a circulation of 15,000 Invest in Alberta is an excellent opportunity to showcase your message to this influential audience.  

To learn about other value added services Venture Publishing provides and to book your ad please contact: 

 Anita McGillis  amcgillis@venturepublishing.ca and 403-228-4337 x 229

#InvestInAlberta2017

If you are an elected official, EDA is presenting you with an opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of how economic development works in your community. 

EDA's Course for Elected Officials is a one-day course that delivers information on the facts and tools your unique group of community leaders needs to understand and reinforce economic development initiatives. 

You will learn how business attraction works; how business retention works and you'll also learn the steps economic development officers use to help to revitalize economies. 

EDA's Course for Elected Officials
June 17, 2016
9:00 am - 4:00 pm 
Edmonton Economic Development, 4th Floor, 9990 Jasper Avenue

Register here

Become a champion of economic development!  Join us in Edmonton next month.

If you would like to book a course in your community simply e-mail admin@edaalberta.ca 

It's Economic Development Week and EDA would like to encourage you to recognize how economic development officers in your community have made a difference. 

How have your EDOs contributed to Community Economic Development? What initiatives are there in your region that support economic opportunities that improve social conditions?

Using the hashtags #YearofEconDev and #AbEDO tweet about your EDOs accomplishments as they relate to Community Economic Development.

Together lets recognize the hard work of Alberta EDO's!

Click on this link for examples of how IEDC is encouraging its members to celebrate Economic Development Week.

This week was created by EDA's strategic partner, IEDC,  as part of it's 90th Anniversary celebrations. 

It's Economic Development Week and EDA would like to encourage you to recognize how economic development officers in your community have made a difference. 

During this tragic time the forest fires have caused in the Wood Buffalo Region, we would like to take a look back and remember the hard work of the EDOs who were involved in the Economic Disaster Recovery Project (EDRP) after the flood in southern Alberta in 2013. 

Here are the 10 communities involved in the EDRP, the hard work of their economic development officers and their teams helped their communities recover after the 2013 flood. What did the individuals in these communities do to help with the economic recovery? Using the hashtags #YearofEconDev and #AbEDO let's remember and tweet about their accomplishments at that time:

• Crowsnest Pass
  
• Town of High River
  
• Vulcan County
  
• Bragg Creek
  
• Waterton Lakes
  
• Town of Cochrane
  
• Town of Canmore
  
• Turner Valley
  
• Town of Sundre
  
• Town of Black Diamond
  

Together let's recognize the hard work of Alberta EDO's!

Click on this link for examples of how IEDC is encouraging its members to celebrate Economic Development Week.

This week was created by EDA's strategic partner, IEDC,  as part of it's 90th Anniversary celebrations. 

As you may know, one of our member communities, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (Fort McMurray) is currently dealing with a significant wildfire. From the most recent media reports, it appears the current priorities are safety/evacuation of residents and protecting valuable infrastructure. As in previous disasters, EDA reached out earlier today to our members in order to let them know that our thoughts and prayers are with them, their families and community leaders as they deal with the immediate crisis and plan for the eventual recovery and rebuilding efforts. We have also advised them we would be happy to help garner resources and support from our organization and membership if, and when the need for the economic disaster recovery becomes a higher priority. As you may recall, after the floods in Southern Alberta a few years ago, EDA spearheaded the Economic Disaster Recovery Project (EDRP), which provided help and support to those communities adversely affected by the floods.   As the situation in Fort McMurray develops, if EDA is able to play a role in the economic disaster recovery component, we will definitely be communicating with our membership to let you know what that could look like and how to get involved. We have already received offers of support from our international, national and provincial economic development partners to assist when and if a response is required. In the interim, I would like to share one of the resources we developed during the EDRP, our Recovery and Resiliency Roadmap: A Toolkit for Economic Preparedness. It is a great guide for communities and elected officials to help prepare for, respond to and recover from various types of economic disruptions.  As an organization committed to Alberta's economic prosperity, and supporting those who are working on the front lines every day, EDA stands ready and willing to help the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo recover as quickly as possible. Sincerely,  Leann Hackman-Carty, CEO

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EDA would like to join our strategic partner the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in recognizing Economic Development Week May 8 -14, 2016. 

IEDC created this week to recognize the work of economic developers. The contributions made by economic developers leads to more jobs, enriched communities, and an overall greater way of life. 

How do you think EDO's can be recognized in your own communities? 

We suggest social media might be a good place to start. With the hashtags #YearofEconDev and #AbEDO we invite you to Tweet about the accomplishments of your economic development professionals beginning now until the end of next week. Together lets recognize Alberta EDO's!

Click on this link for examples of how IEDC is encouraging its members to celebrate Economic Development Week.

This week was created by IEDC as part of it's 90th Anniversary celebrations.

This is a reminder that EDA's next online course through the University of Calgary begins tomorrow:

Economic Development Establishing the Foundation
May 3 - 31, 2016 for a total of 15 hours
Online

Register here

We have just a few spots available so register today to avoid the waiting list.

This foundation course in economic development is popular as it is designed to give economic development professionals and those who work with them a basic understanding of what economic development is and how you can best serve your community. Register today to avoid disappointment.  

All of our 2016 courses are available for registration. 

2016 CEDTP Course Calendar

As you know, EDA's Community Economic Development Training Program (CEDTP) is an excellent professional development opportunity for those in the field of economic development. Our program 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.

These courses are eligible for credits towards the Management Certificate-Economic Developers offered through the University of Calgary in conjunction with EDA. They can also be applied to your Ec.D designation.

#EDAOnline 

(Calgary, AB): Economic Developers Alberta (EDA), Alberta's only professional organization for economic developers is pleased to announce its newly elected 2016-17 Board of Directors as follows:

Sara Chamberlain - President (Airdrie)

Matt Cornall - Past President (Red Deer)

Bev Thornton - Vice President (Pincher Creek)

Court Ellingson - Secretary Treasurer (Calgary)

Glen Vanstone - Director (Edmonton)

Adena Cheverie - Director (Mountainview County)

Schaun Goodeve - Director (Morinville)

Gary Slipp - Director (Calgary)

Margot Begin - Director (Killam)

Sean McRitchie - Director (St. Albert)

Christopher King - Director (Grande Prairie)

In addition, The Honorable Deron Bilous, Minister of Economic Development and Trade is EDA’s Honorary Patron.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to lead a team of talented economic developers from across the province,"said Sara Chamberlain, EDA President."We will continue to advance the profession and offer quality programming for our members. With the challenging economic conditions Alberta is facing, the role of economic developers is even more important and EDA is here to support them."

Economic Developer's Alberta (EDA) is pleased to announce that the Banff Centre will be the new venue for the 2017 Annual Conference. 

We have been grateful that the Delta Kananaskis Lodge has been the venue of the EDA Conference since 2010, the facility has been excellent in meeting the needs of EDA as an organization as well as our Confernece delegates. However, it has become clear the increasing popularity of this event requires a larger facility with features designed to meet our needs for the future.

"The Banff Centre is known for its excellence in convening conferences," said Leann Hackman-Carty, EDA CEO. "The Banff Centre's program options and support will enhance our conference programming, and delegate experience. The future looks bright for EDA's conferences as the Banff Centre will help to facilitate EDA's leadership programming, team building, networking and peer to peer learning opportunities."

EDA's 2017 Annual Conference is being held March 22-24.

See you at the Conference.

#EDA2017

(Kananaskis, AB): Tonight, Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) presented its annual Awards of Excellence during its 2016 Annual Conference at the Delta Kananaskis Lodge.These awards honour Alberta individuals for their contribution to the profession; as well as Alberta communities for excellence in: Business and Investment Attraction (BIA); Business Retention and Expansion (BRE); and Community Economic Development (CED).

The individuals who were recognized are:

• The Economic Developer of the Year Award was presented to Chris King (County of Grande Prairie).
  
• The Outstanding Young Professional Award was presented to Tyler Westover (Strathcona County).
  
• The President’s Award recognizes an EDA member who has made a significant contribution to the organization. This year’s award was presented to Heather Anderson (Woodlands County).

The communities or organizations that were recognized are: 

Business Retention and Expansion (BRE):

• Small community/region (population up to 25,000) - Rural Alberta Business Centre - Cold Lake (Rural Alberta Business Incubator)
  
• Medium community/region (population from 25,001–100,000) - Airdrie Economic Development (Business Satisfaction Survey)
  
• Large community/region (population 100,001+) - Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (PeerSpark® Program)
  

Business and Investment Attraction (BIA):

• Small community/region (population up to 25,000) - City of Wetaskiwin ('City of Opportunity' campaign)
  
• Medium community/region (population from 25,001–100,000) - Town of Okotoks (Visitor & Activity Guide)
  
• Large community/region (population 100,001+) - Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (International Trade & Investment Program)
  

Community Economic Development (CED):

• Small community/region (population up to 25,000) - Town of Cochrane (Proudly Cochrane)
  
• Medium community/region (population from 25,001–100,000) - Alberta South West Regional Alliance (13 Ways Performance Review for Ambitious Communities) and City of St. Albert (Dig In! Horticulinary Festival)
• Large community/region (population 100,001+) - City of Edmonton, Economic & Environmental Sustainability (Corner Store Program)
  

The Alex Metcalfe Award recognizes the "best of the best" community project in each of the BIA, BRE and CED categories. The Alex Metcalfe Awards went to:

• Business Retention and Expansion - Airdrie Economic Development  (Business Satisfaction Survey)
  
• Business and Investment Attraction - Town of Okotoks (Visitor & Activity Guide)
  
• Community Economic Development - City of St. Albert (Dig In! Horticulinary Festival)