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Return to OU/EDI |
OU/EDI Course Descriptions |
| Topic Area |
Business Retention & Expansion |
| Course Name |
Course Description |
| Business Collaborations, Networks & Dislocations |
Growing your local economy is increasingly dependent on facilitating effective interaction among suppliers, customers, competitors and support businesses. Equally important is coping with the normal attrition in an economy or sudden and unexpected losses of major employers. This session discusses both sides of the equation – developing business networks and clusters and coping with losses in your economic base. |
| Retention and Expansion (1 Day) |
The Global Economy places companies and communities at risk. Global companies hold minimal loyalty to communities, states or countries. Carrying out a Business Retention and Expansion Program is an essential element of any economic development strategy and is a key to future economic growth. This session looks in detail at how to plan, implement and measure the performance of an effective Retention and Expansion program. |
| Retention & Expansion Case Study |
The Retention & Expansion case study is a lively, interactive session that uses a real-life example to explore R&E best practices. You will apply information gained from the Retention & Expansion prerequisite course, your experiences, and those of other participants to a challenging situation as you work as a group to find practical and workable solutions to a situation common to many locations. |
| Workforce Development for your Existing Business |
An effective workforce development program includes more than just targeting training funds to businesses. This is an introductory course focusing on the principal elements of a regional or community based workforce development program that enhances the skill levels and availability of a workforce with particular attention to how this can impact your business retention and expansion efforts. |
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| Topic Area |
Finance |
| Course Name |
Course Description |
| Deal Structuring |
Even a small economic development project can be dependent on effectively playing “Let’s Make a Deal”. Each deal is complicated and different. This hands-on workshop will take you deep into the intricacies of deal-making, looking at key factors that buyers, sellers, investors and lenders look for, and how you can evaluate and structure projects and financing to assure success. Local ED programs are always interested in obtaining outside funding assistance, particularly from Uncle Sam. This half-day session looks in detail at what is currently available from EDA, SBA, HUD, RDA and other federal agencies of importance to economic development. Included are critical aspects of applying for funding from these agencies. |
| (2 Days) |
| Finance Lab |
The course focuses on helping the economic developer make or understand lending decisions by evaluating the financial statements of a company, analyzing company operations to understand what makes a healthy company and by using financial ratios that are used to make lending decisions. It will also review current trends in banking, venture capital and public-sector programs. The course will also include a refresher on basic principles of financing and financial analysis. |
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| Topic Area |
Real Estate Development and Reuse |
| Course Name |
Course Description |
| Infrastructure |
Every economic development project is linked in some way to a community's infrastructure. In some cases infrastructure is the deal maker or deal breaker. Economic developers are often responsible for creating a business park, spec building or business incubator. Meeting these responsibilities requires that we are familiar with critical elements of infrastructure. This class is an introduction to the ownership, regulation, terms, definitions, and units of measure used in a variety of development infrastructure. |
| Land and Building Recycling for Economic Development |
Brownfields and vacant buildings in urban, suburban and rural areas can be blights or development opportunities. This course describes ways to understand and overcome social, environmental, legal and technical obstacles to find appropriate ways to develop contaminated properties. |
| (1 Day) |
| Land Development Lab |
A hands-on case study of the master-planning of a mixed use business park. The technique discussed has application to most other types of real estate development. |
| Selected Principles & Practices of Real Estate Development |
The real estate business is complex and multifaceted, but closely related to economic development. This class provides important background in three areas where the economic developer frequently interacts with the real estate business: 1) The terminology of real estate, real estate law and appraisals; 2) The development of speculative buildings; and 3) The preparation and evaluation of RFQs and RFPs to help you find the development experts you may need to help make your real estate development successful. |
| Understanding the Land Development Process |
This class discusses important concepts and techniques related to land development, particularly the development of land for economic development purposes. While the techniques of developing a business or industrial park will be discussed, the same process of market analysis and land planning pertains to most every type of land development. This session is a prerequisite for the Land Development Lab. |
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| Topic Area |
Managing an Economic Development Office |
| Course Name |
Course Description |
| Establishing & Sustaining a Regional ED Organization |
Companies in a site-search mode prefer dealing with regional organizations before looking at individual communities and sites; in response, more regional economic development organizations are being created. Learn both what goes into creating such an organization – and more importantly, how to make it effective over the long run. |
| Managing and Evaluating an Effective ED Office |
In order to properly manage an economic development program, a strategic plan has to be developed. After this document is in place, how do we measure success? What performance measures matter and why? Who is responsible for doing this measurement and what do the indicators mean? What can we do with this information once we have collected it? How do other organizations measure success? This course attempts to give practical answers to these questions for your economic development organization. |
| Politics and the Economic Developer |
Politics – most of the time we hate it, but know it is part of the world in which ED must function. Learn practical skills on how to survive (and hopefully thrive) in the political environment. |
| Professional Issues Discussion Group |
Participate in a free-wheeling discussion of issues that may shape your future in economic development, based on topics requested by class participants. |
| Understanding People |
Success in economic development requires good “people skills”. This course provides an understanding of how a widely used personality typing tool can be used to create better self-awareness and a greater insight into the behavior patterns of others. Participants will focus on understanding and appreciating the differences among people and on identifying strengths and potential weaknesses of both individuals and groups. Particular attention is paid to how personality differences can be used to build effective teams. |
| Community Leadership |
There are two principles of community leadership: first, community leadership is about relationships and the second, community leadership is about change - focusing the energy of the group on change and/or improvement. Successful management of relationships with community leaders and boards of directors is key to the life of an economic development organization. Whether you are with a public, private or a public-private partnership type of economic development organization, this course will outline strategies and concepts applicable to improving interaction with not only a board of directors but elected officials that sometimes perform an analogous role to that of a corporate board. |
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| Topic Area |
Marketing |
| Course Name |
Course Description |
| Design of Electronic & Printed Marketing Materials |
ED marketing has become increasingly dependent on reaching customers through their computers, but driving them to your website still requires effective printed and electronic initial contacts. This session explores how to make sure your electronic content and printed marketing materials get you the best return for your marketing dollar. |
| Effective Prospect Management |
This course, using interactive case studies, is designed to provide economic developers with practical techniques for effectively positioning your community in order to capture the interest of business prospects and hosting those prospects once they agree to visit. |
| Websites, Social Media and other Online Strategies |
Most ED organizations now use websites as an important component of their operational and marketing strategy. But many websites are not optimized to maximize their effectiveness and in fact can at times be counterproductive. This course examines what makes an effective ED web site including the site’s content, functionality, design, and marketing. Diagnostic tools are used to evaluate sites of class participants and make suggestions for improvements which can easily be implemented. |
| Market Segmentation & Target Industry Studies |
Does your marketing approach use the shotgun or rifle approach? Most budget-sensitive marketing programs attempt to focus their efforts on a limited number of realistic, high-value targets. This session focuses on techniques for identifying the targets that are the best fit for the characteristics of your community and sets the stage for tailoring your marketing to these segments. Particular attention is paid to the target that interests most communities – high-tech businesses. |
| Measurement and Evaluation of Marketing Programs |
This course discusses the rationale and nature of measurement and evaluation of marketing programs. It examines and explains trends in program evaluation and outlines practical approaches to establishing effective marketing program metrics and evaluation procedures. Finally, it reviews how overall program goals and objectives can be used to drive performance metrics and specific marketing program tactics and activities. |
| Organizing & Conducting International Trade Missions |
This session covers the fundamentals of organizing a trade mission that serves to inspire business people, generate business and galvanize markets. Learn how to target international markets for export promotion, how to organize the mission, what to do during a trade mission, and organization tips that make trade mission follow-up much easier. |
| Targeting International Trade |
This class will offer practical guidance to economic development practitioners on both the cultural dos and don'ts of working with various foreign business cultures. The session provides real world advice on the best methods to accomplish trade and investment efforts both domestically and abroad. |
| Technology’s Role in the Economic Development Office |
Technology plays a huge role in the administration of a successful economic development organization. Learn how to use your time more effectively, market your area more efficiently and to differentiate your organization through the application of a variety of tools and services. Everything from email campaigns, contact management systems and online surveying is covered in this fast paced, interactive session. |
| Using Technology for Targeted Marketing & Research |
Technology has a vital role to play in targeted marketing and research. This course details the various research sources available in print, through subscriptions and on the Internet. Included are how to find information on companies, how to keep up with activities of those companies, as well as how to identify companies likely to undertake a move or relocation. Sources for demographic data to help your community present the facts about your location are reviewed. This course contains many references to data sources and provides a whole host of tools you can use right away. |
| Effective Int’l Business Development Strategies |
This class will offer practical guidance to economic development practitioners on both the cultural dos and don'ts of working with various foreign business cultures, though primarily Asian and European in scope. The class will be engaged in role playing and group participation. The session provides real world advice on the best methods to accomplish investment efforts both domestically and abroad. |
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| Topic Area |
Strategic Planning |
| Course Name |
Course Description |
| Advanced Strategic Planning Theories & Research Techniques |
Strategic planning principles and practices can be applied to a myriad of problems and situations encountered by economic developers. This course will offer training in how to use strategic planning in three important application areas: 1) internal strategic plan for your organization; 2) external strategic plan for your geographic area; and 3) strategic plan to guide a large-scale development project, such as a downtown development project, a major tourism project or a high-tech business park. You will learn how to use strategic planning to conceptualize the project and turn that concept into an action-oriented plan that gets results. |
| Asset Mapping Your Downtown Business District |
To effectively redevelop your downtown business district, you need to fully understand its assets and liabilities. Learn how to inventory and map the physical, market, cultural and social assets of your downtown to determine how to best capitalize on its strengths and use this information to develop a stronger market position and increased economic vitality. |
| Planning for Strategic Clusters |
Local business development – and the marketing aimed at causing it – is increasingly tied to the identification and growth of clusters of interrelated businesses. This course looks at how cluster development should be built into your overall ED strategic planning efforts. |
| Smart Growth Principles for Strategic Planning |
“Smart Growth” – Is it just the latest buzzword or here to stay? This session provides an overview of key aspects of the Smart Growth movement and how the economic development profession can – and should – make it a useful tool by incorporating it into our normal strategic planning efforts. |
| Strategic Planning Lab |
Learn how to structure a strategic planning process for your community that will match your community’s characteristics and organization’s resources with realistic goals and help leverage the political support you need. This workshop uses case studies and practical examples to give you a concise blueprint on how strategic planning can help you do your job. |
| Strategic Planning Practices and Principles |
The course provides a basic introduction to strategic planning in an economic development environment and builds on the strategic planning session taught in the Basic Courses (BEDCs) or IEDC’s Introduction to Economic Development. It provides a foundation for other strategic planning coursework offered by OU/EDI or IEDC. From this course, you will learn how to design, organize and conduct a successful strategic planning process for your organization or area. |
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| Topic Area |
Entrepreneurship |
| Course Name |
Course Description |
| Financing Entrepreneurship Development |
In this session, the economic development practitioner will learn how to access the credit worthiness of the entrepreneurial borrower and become familiar with the various federal and non-federal financial resources available to capitalize entrepreneurs. Attendees will be able to inventory the capital resources in their regional marketplace and develop strategies to address gaps in those resources. |
| Entrepreneurship Economic Development |
Small and mid-sized enterprises (SME’s) represent most of the job growth in today’s global economy. This session will provide an overview of entrepreneurship economic development (EED) and provide a systems approach to fostering micro-enterprise, small business, entrepreneur and venture company creation. Attendees will learn how to access the role their organization should play in EED and evaluate the effectiveness of such efforts over time. |
| Business Incubators and Accelerators |
Business incubators and accelerators are business assistance programs that provide entrepreneurs with an inexpensive start-up environment and a rage of administrative, consulting and networking services. Participants will gain an understanding of how to develop an incubator or accelerator program and benefit from a discussion of best practices in the field. |
| Small Business Technical Assistance and Training |
In this session, the economic development practitioner will review business plan development and the processes associated with business start up or expansion. At the end of this session, attendees will be able to critique business plans and be comfortable conducting due diligence of start up and expansion projects. |
| Technology Transfer and Innovation |
Technology transfer is the process of developing practical applications for the results of scientific research. Many companies, universities, and governmental organizations now have technology transfer programs dedicated to identifying research results of potential commercial interest, and to developing strategies for how to exploit it. This session will look at the potential linkages between economic development practitioners and technology transfer programs, specifically through clustering, regional partnerships and business acceleration. |
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| Topic Area |
Electives |
| Course Name |
Course Description |
| Current and Future Workforce Issues: Marketing Your Workforce |
This course will review the current U.S. workforce from a national to local perspective and the trends that are the predictors of future workforce issues. Included are the implications of the workforce shortages of 2000, the high unemployment of 2003 -04 and yet the continuing complaint by businesses about the lack of a skilled workforce. The class will look at the impacts of current labor trends, retirees, the declining manufacturing base, offshore service businesses, increasing community college enrollments, and changing expectations of Gen X and Y and what all this means for future workforce needs. This course will also offer where, when and how to find the data to do your own workforce analysis, and information on skills assessments. |
| Predictive Analytics – How to see around corners |
Have you ever wished you could get a glimpse of what’s next? Would you like to know what companies are at risk and which are likely to grow? Is it a trend or merely a fad? Learn what tools and techniques are available to help you make informed decisions. In this interactive session, you will learn how to spot industry trends and predict corporate behavior. We will explore the forces driving change in our economy and how to benefit from the rapidly changing world around us. Bring your crystal ball, and peer into the future with us. |
| Technology’s Role in the Economic Development Office |
Technology is an important and increasingly integral part of a successful economic development program. It pervades everything the economic development professional does- from word processing and database management, to client tracking and web sites. This course discusses the myriad of technology-based components of a successful economic development program. It reviews everything from hardware to software, research tools, contact management systems, site and building databases and the role of the Internet in site selection. |
| Intro to Essay Writing |
Undoubtedly one of the toughest parts to passing any essay exam is to understand how to develop a winning essay technique and to be able to write an essay specifically addressing the topics for which certification graders are looking. Without a doubt, the International Economic Development Council’s CEcD essay exams are among the most challenging essay exams you may ever face. |
| This short, essay writing course will allow you to gain insight into developing a structural approach specifically for essays, while assuring that you focus on the essay action statement AND are able to refine your essay skills to meet the rigors of this portion of the CEcD exam. |
| This fast-paced, interactive session will allow you to test your own skills, by writing an actual essay, based upon the format used in the CEcD exams. You will leave this course knowing your competency level regarding this crucial exam process. |
| Whether you are a skilled writer or a novice, technique gained at this session will help you prepare for the CEcD exam, as well as with your own professional aptitude in timely responses to requests for information or site selection proposals. |
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| Topic Area |
CEcD Review Course |
| Course Name |
Course Description |
| The OU/EDI/CEcD Review Course |
The person taking this course should expect to: |
| - enhance her/his skills in the taking of short answer, essay and oral exams for the CEcD |
| - not learn answers to exam questions, but rather the more important skill of learning how to answer any potential exam questons |
| - work hard before, during and even after the course. |
| Content -- |
| - Four elements vital to earning certification are addressed |
| -- Learning and understanding the CEcD requirements |
| -- Planning to meet the requirements |
| -- Preparing for the exams |
| -- Taking the exams |
| - A significant amount of pre-classroom work will be assigned and completion of this work prior to attending the class is key part of learning process. |
| - Class time is reserved for those activities that are best done in a face-to-face setting. Included here will be practice sessions dealing with the short answer exam, the essay exam and the oral exam. |
| --expect to take exams, write and talk - and to be graded on your effectiveness |
| --at a minimum, participants will experience a practice oral exam as well as short mock short answer and essay exams. The oral exam may be a group demonstration activity. |