Introduction to Economic Development Certificate Program (“Keys Course”)
The next Keys Course will be held October 20-23, 2025 via a Hybrid Format: In-Person at Fresno State University or Virtual (Zoom)
Registration will open in late Spring 2025. Please email helen@evercreativeinc.net to be put on the notification list for 2025 registration
Agenda
Location & Dates
Registration
Fees
General Course Information
CALED partners with The California Academy for Economic Development, Fresno State, and the University Business Center, to bring you the Introduction to Economic Development Certificate Program (also known as the “Keys Course”). This certificate program is designed as an introductory course for people who are generally interested in knowing more about how local economic development works, as well as for those people whose responsibilities include economic development assignments.
Four days of everything you ever wanted to know about economic development. Take advantage of this in-depth interactive opportunity to discuss all aspects of economic development, including strategies, marketing, financing, incentives, business retention, business recruitment and resources. Attendees will get the opportunity to receive a professional certificate of completion in local economic development.
The course instructors and presenters are practicing professionals in local and state economic development who bring a great mix of knowledge and practical experience to the course insuring a large dose of reality. This is the only course of its kind offered in California and is your once a year opportunity to learn more about economic development.
**PLEASE READ:
CALED is accredited by IEDC to offer this course in California. In order to receive full IEDC certification credit for this course and a certificate indicating course completion, participants must attend the entire course and stay through the final session on the last day. Please make travel plans accordingly. Click on the following link for FAQ on Certification and Education.
Additionally, in order to receive a mailed copy of a Certificate of Completion, attendees must complete the final summary exam.
Course Topics Include:
- How to market your community
- Developing an economic development strategy
- Basic and advanced financing techniques
- Pros and Cons of using incentives
- Business retention, expansion and creation techniques
- Community assessment and planning
- Marketing & Attraction
- How to Manage the Economic Development Organization
- Entrepreneurship & Small Business Strategies
- Ethics
Who Should Attend:
- Candidates for ACE certification – Accredited California Economic Developer (ACE)
- Candidates for IEDC certification – Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)
- Professionals new to the field of economic development
- Anyone who wants to learn the basics of economic development
- Practicing Economic Development professionals who want a refresher course on the basics
The next Introduction to Economic Development Certification Program (Keys Course) will be held October 20-23, 2025.
Dates: October 20-23, 2025
The program is to be held in a hybrid format either in-person at the University Business Center (part of the Craig School of Business at Fresno State) or via a virtual format (Zoom) based on meeting minimum in-person attendance requirements.*
The University Business Center is located at 5245 N Backer Ave., Fresno, CA 93740-8001 (between Shaw / Barstow taking the Woodrow Avenue entrance).
Registration will open in late Spring 2025
Email helen@evercreativeinc.net to be put on the notification list for 2025 registration
Fees:
Member rate is $900* (You must be the listed member in CALED)
Nonmember rate is $1,000* (Includes a one-year Associate Membership in CALED)
Please make check payable to: Fresno State University Foundation
Send check payment to:
Economic Development Certificate Program
University Business Center
Craig School of Business
5245 N. Backer M/S PB 5
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
To pay by Visa or Mastercard, please call: 559-278-2352
*Scholarships are only available to CALED Members in good standing. You must meet all the Scholarship Criteria in order to be considered. To apply for a scholarship, please click here for information and application deadline.
For more information , please contact Helen Schaubmayer, at 916-448-8252, ext. 16.
About IEDC
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,500 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of settings including local, state, provincial and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions.
