23rd Annual Intensive Economic Development Training Course Conducted at Auburn

The Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), a partnership of Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, recently conducted its 23rd annual Intensive Economic Development Training Course. The course was at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center July 14 through 18 and Sept. 15 through 19.

Course faculty included leading economic and community development experts from across the state and nation. In fact, several members of the faculty are alumni of the course and credit the training for providing them with the expertise necessary for advancement in their profession. This year’s class included 50 participants from across the state of Alabama.

The course introduces participants to all phases of economic development and serves as a foundation for the other two-day issue-specific courses presented by ECDI. As part of the course’s interactive and hands-on learning format, participants tour the Hyundai Motor manufacturing facility in Montgomery. They also participate in a half-day roundtable session in which they collectively consider the top priorities for economic development in Alabama.

“This course is designed to provide individuals from throughout Alabama with the background and tools they need to develop a successful strategy for building communities and sustaining long-term economic growth,” says Joe Sumners, ECDI director.

“As a result, this course has been a major contributor to the economic development profession at both the state and local levels.”

“The combination of excellent speakers, reference materials and the networking opportunities offered through the course make it especially valuable to community leaders and economic developers from throughout the state,” says Allyson Hahn Martin, ECDI economic and community development training specialist.

The annual training course is supported by the Economic Development Association of Alabama, Alabama Gas Corporation, Alabama Power Company, PowerSouth Electric Cooperative and AT&T.

With more than 20 years of experience in economic and community development education and training and almost 1,000 alumni across Alabama, the Economic and Community Development Institute at Auburn University is the state's leading provider of economic and community development education.

For more information about the course or ECDI, contact Amelia Hall Stehouwer, research and communications specialist, ECDI, at (334) 844-5394 or by e-mail at: hallame@auburn.edu.

Posted by dreynold at September 25, 2008 03:08 PM | TrackBack