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 the assets of the community 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 the municipal, provincial and global economic development resources

• The EDO is a liaison between the economic development committee and/or community, and 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

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

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.