EDA News Centre

Mark your calendars, Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) has has posted its 2015 schedule of online courses through the University of Calgary. Click on the course titles to read about and to register for the courses.

Business Retention and Expansion
January 20 - February 17, 2015
September 8 - October 6, 2015

Economic Development Establishing the Foundation
May 5 - June 2, 2015
November 17 - December 15, 2015

Business and Investment Attraction
March 3 - April 4, 2015
October 13 - November 10, 2015

Don't forget in one week EDA's next online course through the University of Calgary begins:

Business and Investment Attraction
October 14-November 11, 2014 (for a total of 15 hours)
Read more about the course and register here

EDA is offering a perk to its members only, a 50% rebate on tuition for the Business and Investment Attraction Course that begins next week. Once you register, EDA members please submit your receipt to admin@edaalberta.ca (please do not reply to this e-mail). EDA will award the rebate on a first come first served basis so register now!

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

On October 14, EDA's next online course through the University of Calgary begins:

Business and Investment Attraction
October 14-November 11, 2014 (for a total of 15 hours)
Read more about the course and register here

The Business and Investment Attraction course is designed to increase your understanding of the importance of business investment and attraction as a strategy in economic development; and to introduce and profile how business investment attraction can benefit your community.
EDA is offering a perk to its members only, a 50% rebate on tuition. Once you register, EDA members please submit your receipt to admin@edaalberta.ca (please do not reply to this e-mail). EDA will award the rebate on a first come first served basis so register now!

This course is eligible for credit 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.

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) is pleased to announce it has designed a unique resource to help community leaders prepare for and recover from economic disasters. The only resource of its kind in Canada.

Called the Recovery and Resiliency Roadmap: A Toolkit for Economic Preparedness; it is a practical guide that provides strategies and tactics for community leaders to focus on for economic recovery and preserving jobs.

"When disaster strikes, all too often, economic recovery becomes a piecemeal reaction, rather than a planned response," said Leann Hackman-Carty EDA CEO. "The key is to take steps ahead of time to ensure your organization will be able to stay in touch with local businesses during and after any type of major incident and to set up a plan of action for disaster response and recovery. The Recovery and Resiliency Roadmap is the only toolkit of its kind in Canada that equips community leaders with these resources for resiliency."

This toolkit is an outcome of EDA's Economic Disaster Recovery Project (EDRP). A response to the catastrophic flooding in June 2013; it is designed as a unique blended learning opportunity to provide economic development practitioners, and those in supporting roles, with both theoretical and practical training.

EDA partnered with the British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in the EDRP and the creation of this toolkit.

"We are pleased to partner with EDA in this initiative by providing content and resources for the toolkit," said Dale Wheeldon, President and CEO BCEDA. "This toolkit is an important instrument for Canadian economic developers as it provides a broader framework and best practice information to help community leaders meet the high expectations associated with ensuring their community can handle a disaster."

The Recovery and Resiliency Roadmap: A Toolkit for Economic Preparedness, is modelled after IEDC's U.S. disaster preparedness toolkit titled “Leadership in the Time of Crisis” launched in June 2014.

"We are pleased to help with the creation of this toolkit," said Jeff Finkle, President and CEO, IEDC. "We were proud to be a part of EDA's unique Economic Disaster Recovery Project and trust this customized toolkit will assist Canadian communities and elected officials as they continue to prepare for, respond to, and recover from various types of economic disruptions in the future."


Read about and download the Recovery and Resiliency Roadmap: A Toolkit for Economic Preparedness

About the Economic Disaster Recovery Project (EDRP)

EDA is offering its members a 50% rebate on tuition for its next online course through the University of Calgary.

Business and Investment Attraction
October 14-November 11, 2014 (for a total of 15 hours)
Read more about the course and register here

Once you register, please submit your receipt to admin@edaalberta.ca (please do not reply to this e-mail). EDA will award the rebate on a first come first served basis so register now!

The Business and Investment Attraction course is designed to increase your understanding of the importance of business investment and attraction as a strategy in economic development; and to introduce and profile how business investment attraction can benefit your community.

This course is eligible for credit 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.

EDA would like to congratulate Michelle Levasseur from the Town of Devon! Michelle is the successful candidate for the EDA scholarship to IEDC's first Alberta course held in Edmonton: Entrepreneurial and Small Business Development.

I can’t tell you enough how thankful I am to have opportunities such as these to obtain funding support to attend workshops, conferences and educational sessions. We are a small community so due to a limited budget we have to very carefully choose what we attend….so without receiving this, I would not otherwise have access to the session. Greatly appreciated. - Michelle Levasseur, EDO Town of Devon.

Registration is still on going so don't miss out on this course. Learn how you as an economic development expert can create the climate that encourages entrepreneurial and small business development in your community.

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Development
October 30-31
Edmonton, Alberta
More information and register here

In this course you will explore topics such as:

• value-add partnerships
  
• technical assistance programs
  
• financing
  
• business incubation
  

Entrepreneurs and small businesses stimulate job creation, develop crucial innovations in both products and services and promote the diversification of the economic base.

See you in Edmonton!

As you look ahead to your September calendars, Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) would like to remind you our next ONLINE course, Business Retention and Expansion, begins September 9.

Business retention and expansion (BR&E) is a primary economic development strategy that supports the development and growth of the business community. The result of a strong BR&E strategy is a healthy and thriving business community which in turn provides a long term sustainable community foundation.

Read about the course and register here.
Business Retention and Expansion

September 9 - October 7, 2014 (for a total of 15 hours)

Online through the University of Calgary.

Here are some of the key outcomes:

• Explain the rationale for BR&E programs
  
• Identify options for BR&E programs
  
• Determining types and sources of data that support the selection and development of BR&E programs
  
• Recognize the critical nature of ‘red flags," and the need to respond
  
• Explore the concept of business incubation, entrepreneurism, and nurturing home-based businesses (HBBs)
  
• Identify the tools and resources that can help economic developers support and sustain business
  
• Identify how to plan, establish and manage a BR&E program
  

These online courses are offered by Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) and are eligible for credit towards the Management Certificate-Economic Developers offered through the University of Calgary in conjunction with EDA.

As most economic developers know, encouraging ‘close cooperation’ between the public and private sectors can be harder than it appears – particularly after a major community crisis.

Next week, join IEDC's Restore Your Economy for a FREE Webinar to give you tips and tools on how economic developers can create successful relationships with the private sector.

Creating Successful Partnerships with the Private Sector
Thursday August 21, 2014
12:30 -2:00 MST
Cost: FREE


Drawing on case studies of recovery from Hurricane Katrina and other recent disasters, this webinar will outline the key actions for developing trusting strategic alliances between the public and private sectors. Learn how to avoid potential pitfalls and to align strategic interests from varying parties.

This Webinar is part of IEDC's 2014 Disaster Preparedness and Economic Recovery Webinar Series. This 12-part Webinar series is free of charge and provides practical information on key topics in disaster preparedness and economic recovery for economic development organizations and chambers of commerce. Each seminar hosts economic recovery practitioners with real world experience and leadership in the subject matter.

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) is presenting: D-Days of an Ethical Dilemma in Economic Development;
the next webinar in our Marketing Master's Series.

Whether you are dealing with prospects, business owners, board members, community leaders or staff…a little common sense goes a long way. But the issues we face in this field are far from clear cut.

D-Days of an Ethical Dilemma in Economic Development.
August 21, 2014
12:00 - 1:30 pm (MST)

Jay Moon, President and CEO of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, will give you tips and tools based on best practices to navigate ethical dilemmas in economic development. Learn from Jay’s insightful overview of ethics and observations from the field.

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) is launching its new and official publication: Invest In Alberta, and EDA members have an exclusive opportunity to get involved.

Invest In Alberta is a proven tool to help you raise the profile of your community's products and services to local, national and international decision makers entering the Alberta market or expanding to other regions.

EDA members are being offered the first chance to advertise in Invest In Alberta and are the only advertisers who will be offered a 50% rebate on their advertising on a first come, first served basis. Act now as funds are limited!

The process is simple: contact Katherine Butler at: 1-800-208-2011 ext 158 or e-mail kbutler@biv.com and she will help you place your ad and answer any questions you may have. To receive your rebate, e-mail your ad receipt (proof of purchase) to nancy.toombs@edaalberta.ca.

Our Invest in Alberta publication will represent all of our economic regions and will have a circulation of over 9,500 to business leaders, managers and influencers, business investment decision makers, innovators and entrepreneurs.

"EDA is committed to helping you in your efforts to grow and maintain a strong and diverse economy and Invest in Alberta is an excellent tool to assist you in your community economic development efforts," said Leann Hackman-Carty EDA CEO. "We are pleased to partner with BIV Media Group in this initiative as this company has a proven track record with our colleagues at BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA)." 

The publication date for Invest in Alberta is December 2014.

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) is presenting Monetizing Economic Development; the next webinar in its Marketing Masters Series:

Monetizing Economic Development
Thursday July 24, 2014
12:00 - 1:30 pm (MST)
Register here

Funding economic development efforts is a challenge. This webinar will focus on both the traditional methods being used as well as the innovative approaches being taken.
With our panel of experienced practitioners, learn the concepts and procedures they use to raise the money necessary to carry out the mission of their organizations.
The panel will discuss funding, cost sharing, foundations and crowd funding sourcing, and other approaches being used. Learn how to engage your community, leadership team, and yourself in the process.