Economic Development Courses
Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCED) Program
The TCED Program, administered by the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS), provides high-quality training, continuing education and professional development opportunities to Tennessee’s economic and community development practitioners, community leaders, elected and appointed officials.
The TECD Program gives participants a broad-based knowledge of economic opportunities and trends, core components and tools required to compete in today’s global economy, with a focus on economic development in Tennessee.
Upon completion of the 92-hour TCED course curricula and certification requirements, participants are awarded the Tennessee Certified Economic Developer designation, indicating that they have developed core competency in the principles and practices of economic development in Tennessee.
Economic Development Training Courses include:
Tennessee Basic Economic Development Course
The four-day Tennessee Basic Economic Development Course (TBEDC), accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), focuses on the fundamental concepts, strategies and tools needed to be successful in today’s complex economic environment. Topics include a basic overview of strategic planning, managing economic development, finance, workforce development, business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship and small business development, marketing and attraction, ethics, community development, among others.
Tennessee Business Retention and Expansion Course
The Tennessee Business Retention and Expansion Course is a one-and-a-half-day course which focuses on how to develop, implement and evaluate an effective Business Retention and Expansion Program. Course topics include promoting existing businesses, addressing sudden and unexpected losses of major employers, and the importance of retooling both the workplace and workforce.
Tennessee Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Course
The Tennessee Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Course is a one-and-a-half-day course which focuses on the economic impact of small businesses on local and regional economies, needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses and available resources to assist them, and effective networks and strategies to support entrepreneurship and small business development.
Tennessee Managing Economic Development Course
The Tennessee Managing Economic Development Course is a one-and-a-half-day course which focuses on building an effective economic development organization at local, state and regional levels. Topics include examining organizational models, measuring performance, management approaches, roles of key leaders, stakeholder relations, navigating the political environment, board management, media relations, communications strategies and strategic planning.
Tennessee Economic Development Basic Finance Course
The Tennessee Economic Development Basic Finance Course is a one-and-a-half-day, hands-on course focused on the variety of development finance tools available in Tennessee, from bonds, tax credits, PILOTs and TIFs, to federal financing programs, revolving loan funds and access to capital lending resources. Through case studies, course participants will explore the pros and cons of utilizing the various tools in the economic development finance toolbox.
Tennessee Marketing & Attraction Course
The Tennessee Marketing and Attraction Course is a one-and-a-half-day course that covers the basics of developing and implementing a high-impact marketing and attraction plan. Course participants learn how to craft their community’s message by reviewing online marketing fundamentals, GIS technologies, website design and current trends in site selection. While this course emphasizes business attraction and new business development, existing business and community development are included as part of a comprehensive approach.
Tennessee Workforce Development Course
The Tennessee Workforce Development Course is a hands-on course covering pertinent topics and trends such as the widening skills gap, the multigeneration workforce, the changing nature of the workplace and the importance of collaboration among allies. The one-and-a-half-day course is designed to help economic development practitioners, government officials and other community leaders at state, regional and local levels understand best practices, available resources and partnership approaches to building a competitive workforce.
QUESTIONS, MORE INFORMATION
Contact Tintin Czach, TCED Program Director, at 615-532-4922 or [email protected] or visit www.cis.tennessee.edu/TCED.
