Your Partner in Growing Your Community

Michigan's Economic Development Basic Course

2023 Basic Course GraphicThe Basic Course filled very quickly this year. We have expanded our space, but it filled again. Contact Cassandra at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to the waiting list.

The 2023 Michigan's Economic Development Basic Course will be held September 12 - 14 in Downtown Lansing.

What is the Economic Development Basic Course?

MEDA partners with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) to offer the Economic Development Basic Course. This course is a comprehensive educational opportunity with a focus on the critical areas of economic development. For those seeking national certification, the Economic Development Basic Course is the first requirement in the process of becoming a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). This course qualifies as a professional development training requirement needed to sit for the CEcD exam. CEcD certification through the IEDC is a national recognition that denotes a mastery of principal skills in economic development, professional attainment, and a commitment to personal and professional growth.

The course is accredited by the IEDC. For more information, click here, or call 202-942-9466. The IEDC is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to helping economic developers do their job more effectively and raising the profile of the profession.

Overview

Agenda

  • Click here for an agenda.
  • See What to Expect below.
  • Required Sessions, below this section, will tell you about the sessions that are held each year.

Costs: MEDA Members $645*/Non-Members $870**

  • If you joined in the last 12 months, you may still have a New Member Coupon that you can use to receive a discount. Ask Cassandra at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
  • If not a member, ask Cassandra at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. how you can save by joining MEDA and applying your new member coupon.

What to Expect:

  • A mixture of lecture and case study work.
  • Approximately 8:00 to 5:00 each day.
  • Lunch on your own.
  • Drinks and snacks are provided.

Location: Courtyard by Marriott, 600 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912. Capital Room.

Hotel Reservations: Courtyard by Marriott, 600 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912. King Rooms are available at $149++/night (13% taxes as of December 2022). Reserve by calling 888-236-2427 or online by August 29, 2023. All reservations must be accompanied by a first-night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card. The hotel will not hold any reservations unless secured by one of the above methods. Reservations can be canceled without penalty charges if notice is given 48 hours prior to arrival.

Scholarships: Scholarships are available for MEDA members to attend the Economic Development Basic Course each year. Scholarship applications must be submitted by August 1, 2023.

Registration Deadline: August 31, 2023

Payment Policy: Payment must be received in order to attend.

Attendance Policy: Only those attendees who attend all classes will receive a certificate of completion. If an attendee misses more than 10 percent of class time, credit for the course cannot be awarded. No excuses for absence other than illness, family, or other emergencies can be considered. The course director has discretion over specific issues.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be received in writing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 24 hours prior to the event in order to receive a refund. Attendees who do not attend or cancel will be charged the full registration fee.

These Dates Don't Work for You? See Professional Development at www.iedconline.com for a list of upcoming Basic Courses in the U.S.

Required Sessions

The following ten sessions are held at the Economic Development Basic Course each year. These sessions are two hours each per requirement of the IEDC.

Business Retention and Expansion
Business retention and expansion are critical in today’s economy. The objectives of this session will include how to organize a business retention and expansion program. We will cover how to, provide examples of programs and activities that foster the growth of existing businesses, recommend strategies helpful in implementing a successful program, and identify valuable local resources.

Community/Neighborhood Development
This session will provide an understanding of the steps in the community development process, and the challenges of community development in economic development practice.

Economic Development Ethics
Incorporating ethics into professional standards is critical to the ongoing growth of the economic development profession. Ethical standards ensure accountability, transparency, and integrity. Learn what your economic development organization should include in its ethics policies and practices.

Economic Development Finance
This session will focus on several key elements, including the blending of sources, capital availability, sources of long-term financing, returns to the lender, and leveraging. Once we have a better understanding of the structure, we will then look at the two sectors of financing: public and private.

Managing an Economic Development Organization
This session will cover the issues specific to economic development organizations such as working with leaders, developing a vision for the organization and community, delegating available resources to the right programs, and developing the most appropriate programs for that organization and its community.

Marketing/Attraction
As an economic developer, it is important that you have a basic knowledge of the marketing process and its benefits. This session will focus on the marketing process, geographic and economic considerations, suspects vs. prospects, and advertising & promotion. Also addressed will be market research and targeting.

Real Estate Development and Reuse
In this session, participants will be introduced to the land development process, with an emphasis on the role that the economic developer plays. Participants will learn about the various tools that are available at the local level, including tax increment financing, bonds, land assembly, and eminent domain, in addition to the many federal programs available.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development
This session will provide an overview of the role of small businesses in the U.S. economy, the creation of jobs, a brief profile of the small business creation process, and an introduction to the new and emerging areas of small business creation.

Strategic Planning
Strategic planning for a community or organization envisions its future and develops necessary procedures and actions to achieve that future. This session will focus on the background understanding of strategic planning and its process, how to design & organize the process, develop strategies, and formulate action plans.

Workforce Development
Workforce development is quickly becoming the #1 focus for economic development organizations. A skilled and educated workforce is crucial in today’s economy. This interactive session will focus on the need for the creation of workforce development programs that address both community and business needs.

Registration

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Contact Us

Michigan Economic
Developers Association
P.O. Box 15096
Lansing, MI 48901-5096
PH: 517-241-0011
cjorae@medaweb.org