Webinars & Events

As part of the EDD CoP, the NADO Research Foundation and its partners offer a variety of virtual and in-person training opportunities for EDD staff and leadership.  Below are links to webinar recordings, workshop and conference presentation materials, and other additional resources.  

Webinar Recordings

AI and RLFs Webinar Recording

This webinar, co-hosted by the Economic Development District Community of Practice and the Revolving Loan Fund Community of Practice, discusses practical considerations for RLF operators looking to integrate AI tools into their workflows.

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From Vacant to Vibrant Webinar Series

This webinar series includes real-world examples, actionable tools, and fresh ideas for EDD staff and partners looking to spark economic growth, fill empty spaces, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

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Webinar: Repurposing Vacant Houses of Worship

This webinar explores how municipalities can engage religious leaders, congregations, and developers to thoughtfully reimagine these properties. Whether repurposed for affordable housing, social services, the arts, or mixed-use community hubs, houses of worship can serve as powerful anchors for revitalization when guided by strategic collaboration.

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Webinar: Building Partnerships and Building Homes

The NADO Research Foundation and Neighbor Works America partnered on this joint training opportunity to connect national networks of EDDs and Neighbor Works America affiliate organizations. Participants learned about ways these valuable economic and community development organizations can work together to address affordable housing in their regions.

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CLG Workforce Webinar 01.23.25

https://youtu.be/C33PFP2U1XE Economic Development Districts (EDDs) across the country are facing the challenge of quick turnover in their entry level positions. This is leading to gaps

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Federal Grant Administration Webinar Series

To assist RDOs in the transition to the revised rules, NADO is sponsoring a four-part webinar series that will provide detailed coverage of key aspects of the new policies. The series will be presented by Bob Lloyd, who has conducted dozens of NADO sponsored training programs and has provided extensive technical support on the numerous comments that NADO has submitted to OMB urging policy features that recognize the unique role that RDO’s play in many federal grant programs.

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Leveraging Zoning for Economic Development

As part of the EDD CoP, the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) hosted a webinar to highlight how informed planning and zoning decisions can revitalize business districts in urban, suburban, and small towns

Thriving at Work: A Team-Based Approach to Health and Wellness

The Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) has created a highly successful health and wellness program focused on enhancing the mental, physical, financial, and social well-being of its staff.   This webinar with UERPC Executive Director Rachelle Howe covers actionable strategies to implement wellness initiatives and build healthier, more supportive workplaces for staff at EDDs.

New OMB Guidance: Briefing for RDOs

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has released its long-awaited revision of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200). This webinar, hosted by the NADO Research Foundation and led by Bob Lloyd, covers the highlights of the revised policies which must be implemented by October 1, 2024. It also shows how your organization can confidently use them as you work with partners at the federal, state, and local levels. 

Webinar Series: Federal Grant Administration

Recipients and subrecipients of federal grants must follow revised policies contained in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and codified in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200. Revisions to these requirements will be effective October 1, 2024. To assist RDOs in the transition to the revised rules, NADO sponsored a four-part webinar series that provided detailed coverage of key aspects of the new policies. The series was led by Bob Lloyd.

Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) 101

This webinar, organized by Grow America through the RLF Community of Practice and co-sponsored by the NADO Research Foundation, addressed the fundamentals of Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs), EDA’s RLF program, and how EDDs can leverage RLFs to support the communities they serve. 

Data Deep Dive for EDDs: A Closer Look at Argonne National Laboratory’s NERDE and EDCI Tools

This webinar demonstrated how the National Economic Resilience Data Explorer (NERDE) and the Economic Development Capacity Index (EDCI) tools can be utilized to support your CEDS and other regional planning efforts.

American Connection Corps: Opportunities for EDDs

The NADO Research Foundation co-hosted a webinar with the American Connection Corps (ACC) to demonstrate opportunities available to EDDs and other organization to host an ACC Member.  This webinar explained how ACC Members can provide valuable resources and expertise to EDDs and included a testimonial from the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission which serves as an ACC host. 

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Webinar for EDDs

In support of the EDD CoP, the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) hosted a webinar with Trent Frazier, Deputy Assistant Director for the Stakeholder Engagement Division of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In the webinar, Frazier discussed what CISA resources and materials are available to EDDs.

Strategic Tools for Bioeconomy Development

This webinar highlighted how EDDs and other regional organizations can assist local communities to better participate in the growing global bioeconomy.  It also featured information about the Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone Initiative that enables economically distressed communities to powerfully leverage biomass assets to serve as anchors for revitalization.

RLF 201 Webinar

The Economic Development District Community of Practice (EDD CoP) and the Revolving Loan Fund Community of Practice (RLF CoP) hosted the RLF 201 Workshop on Tuesday, June 11 at 2 p.m. ET. During the workshop, the presenters – Karen Lynch with EDA, Rick Hunsaker with Region XII Council of Governments, and Mary Louk with Grow America shared their best practices covering multiple topics relevant to RLF operators.

Incorporating Workforce Development and Upskilling in the CEDS

Effective CEDS should emphasize the identification, enrichment, and strategic deployment of workforce assets, focusing on job quality and inclusion. By demonstrating an ability to meet evolving workforce needs through data-supported arguments and targeted upskilling strategies, regions can attract and grow businesses and support workers, all while building regional wealth and fostering economic resilience and equity.

Webinar: Building a Wealth Creation Learning Community

In this first webinar of a series, NADO Research Foundation’s Melissa Levy interviews Region Five Development Commission Executive Director Cheryal Hills about how she got started with WealthWorks, how she began to integrate it into her work, and how she uses it now. Bonita Robertson-Hardy, Co-Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, shared about how WealthWorks relates to the Thrive Rural framework and rural development hubs. Following the guided discussion, participants engaged in a conversation about the greater wealth creation community and what would be most useful to that community moving forward.

Webinar: Focusing on Assets Through Wealth Creation

This second webinar in the wealth creation series showcases how EDDs can use the eight capitals as a framework for identifying and building on assets in economic development. Kade Jones talks about how Acadiana Planning Commission in Louisiana is using wealth creation in its community prospectuses (through its Opportunity Zone initiative) and its CEDS, through its SWOT analysis, its strategies and its metrics. Eric Smith, of Great Lakes Urban and USDA Extension, speaks through storytelling about how wealth creation has figured into his work in Appalachian Ohio, Uganda and Michigan. This session also provided space for participants to network and discuss ways that they might consider assets in their work. 

Rural Housing Solutions: EDDs as Regional Housing Changemakers

Rural regions face specific and unique challenges in meeting their regional residents’ housing needs. Rural EDDs across the country are taking on key roles in addressing their region’s housing affordability and accessibility. From housing planning steps, grant writing and financing, all the way to housing development, EDDs are well-equipped to take on a specific-to-their-region role. View the recording of Rural Housing Solutions: EDDs as Regional Housing Changemakers webinar where you’ll hear from NADO First Vice President and Region XII Council of Governments Executive Director Rick Hunsaker and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Senior Community Planning and Development Specialist Erich Yost, who provided concrete examples of how EDDs can meet unmet housing needs in their regions.

Webinar Briefing: The State of the EDDs & CEDS Content Guidelines Updates

Argonne National Laboratory NERDE and EDCI Tools

With funding from the U.S. Economic Development AdministrationArgonne National Laboratory’s National Economic Research and Resilience Center hosts the National Economic Resilience Data Explorer (NERDE) and the Economic Development Capacity Index (EDCI). NERDE consolidates information and data on economic distress, demographics, the existence and emergence of industry clusters, and COVID-19 impacts to local economies, while the EDCI uses publicly available data to assess critical elements that contribute to a county’s overall economic development capacity. This webinar provided an overview and live demonstration of these tools to show how they can be utilized to support your CEDS and other regional planning efforts.

Webinar: Tribal Engagement for Economic Development Districts

This webinar discusses strategies for Economic Development Districts looking to engage (or re-engage) with Tribal Governments in the regions they serve. EDA’s Tribal Coordinator joins NADO, FNDI, and the Directors of three EDDs to discuss purpose, strategies, and successes in the space.

Working with EDDs to Build Resilient and Equitable Regions

This webinar, hosted by the University Economic Development Association (UEDA), highlighted how two Minnesota EDDs have collaborated with the University of Minnesota Extension on the CEDS, technical assistance, and data analysis.  

Training: CEDS Peer Exchange (#1)

This webinar, conducted for the CEDS Peer Exchange Groups, was led by Alison Turner, Senior Economic Development Research at Argonne National Laboratory. Alison presented on how Argonne’s data tools can be used to inform and strengthen CEDS strategies.

Training: CEDS Peer Exchange (#2)

In the second training of the NADO CEDS Peer Exchange Groups, Dell Gines, Chief Innovation Officer at the International Economic Development Council shared tips and tricks for how to use AI tools to support the development of the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

Webinar: Manufacturing and Regional Development

The Manufacturing Community of Practice has released a new playbook for measuring regional collaboration on manufacturing sector development. This webinar, hosted by the EDD CoP, explores how EDDs can use this playbook to understand and expand their roles in regional manufacturing ecosystems.

Webinar: Disaster Preparedness and Economic Resilience – Key Considerations for EDDs

This webinar with the International Sustainable Resilience Center (ISRC) and NADO Research Foundation explores how EDDs can best position their regions for disaster preparedness and economic resilience. You’ll hear about key strategies such as establishing information networks, identifying vulnerabilities, developing action plans, utilizing resilience tools, and much more.

Webinar: Leveraging Data to Support Disaster Preparedness & Recovery

This webinar with the NADO Research Foundation and StateBook highlighted how Economic Development Districts (EDDs) and other Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) can leverage data-driven insights to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters while building long-term economic resilience.

Webinar: Manufacturing and Regional Development

The Manufacturing Community of Practice has released a new playbook for measuring regional collaboration on manufacturing sector development. This webinar, hosted by the EDD CoP, explores how EDDs can use this playbook to understand and expand their roles in regional manufacturing ecosystems. 

Webinar: Building Partnerships and Building Homes - NADO Research Foundation and Neighbor Works America

The NADO Research Foundation and Neighbor Works America partnered on this joint training opportunity to connect national networks of EDDs and Neighbor Works America affiliate organizations. 

Past Event Materials

Wealth Creation Training

In August 2023, Economic Development Districts, tribes, and others gathered in the Dakotas and Minnesota to attend the kickoff meetings for the USDA-funded North Central Regional

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2024 Annual Training Conference Presentation Materials

NADO’s 2024 Annual Training Conference in New Orleans, LA brought together nearly 600 regional development staff, board members, federal partners, and others for learning, networking, and exploring projects throughout the region.  Many sessions were planned and offered through the EDD CoP.  Topics covered included resilience planning,  workforce development, housing, aging, the CEDS, wealth creation strategies, and much more.

2024 Wealth Creation Summit Materials

The first-ever EDD Wealth Creation Summit took place in Greenville, SC as part of the EDD CoP.  Attendees from EDDs and partner organizations across the country participated in a mobile workshop, heard a keynote from an innovative cooperative manufacturing partnership, and attended panel and training sessions about a variety of wealth creation topics.

2024 An Afternoon with the Districts

This event in March 2024 brought together nearly 80 participants representing EDDs, federal partners, and other national organizations for an afternoon of networking, training, and conversations that explored how best to incorporate data and metrics into the CEDS and other regional planning efforts. 

2023 Annual Training Conference Presentation Materials

Nearly 30 sessions at NADO’s 2023 Annual Training Conference in Cleveland, OH were offered through the EDD CoP, covering a range of topics important to EDD staff and partners.  Below are links to a few featured sessions; click here to access all conference presentations.
    – Making it Count: Achieving, Measuring and Reporting Results with Data Analysis
    – Looking through the Lens of Wealth Creation: Doing Economic Development Differently
    – RDO and Tribal Partnerships
    – Equity and Inclusion Fundamentals
    – CEDS Content Guidelines and Best Practices

Wealth Creation Training

In August 2023, Economic Development Districts, tribes, and others gathered in the Dakotas and Minnesota to attend the kickoff meetings for the USDA-funded North Central Regional Food Business Center led by Region Five Development Commission.  Melissa Levy, NADO Regional Development Researcher and wealth creation specialist, designed and developed the trainings as a way to share the wealth creation framework with participants. 

2023 Southwest Region Economic Development Association (SWREDA) Conference

Several EDD CoP sessions were offered at this May 2023 conference, which convened staff from EDDs, Tribal Planning Grantees, University Centers, Revolving Loan Funds, and others engaged in economic development across the five-state EDA Austin region.

2023 Economic Development Conference for the EDA Denver Region

Several EDD CoP sessions were offered at this April 2023 conference, which convened staff from EDDs, Tribal Planning Grantees, University Centers, Revolving Loan Funds, and others engaged in economic development across the ten-state EDA Denver region. 

EDA Seattle EDD Regional Roundtable

The NADO Research Foundation and EDA Seattle Regional Office hosted an EDD Regional Roundtable in March 2023 that brought together EDD and EDA staff for training, networking, and sharing opportunities and challenges facing EDDs across the EDA Seattle region.  

2023 An Afternoon with the Districts

This event in March 2023 brought together nearly 70 participants representing EDDs, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, EDA community of practice partners, and other national organizations for an afternoon of networking, training, and conversations that explored how best to position EDDs for success in achieving regional economic development and resilience.

EDA and EDDs: Partners in Regional Economic Development

During this session at the 2023 NADO Washington Conference, EDA and EDD staff reflected on opportunities for collaboration, the latest updates on CEDS guidelines, and how EDDs can effectively engage with an array of federal partners and programs. 

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