Taking the reins of and leading an Economic Development District (EDD) requires a serious commitment of time and energy. It will likely require risks, innovation, compromise, leadership, partnership, and professionalism. The first 100 days is often the measure of how effective a new leader will be. It is the initial runway for you to establish your approach, show initiative, and demonstrate your ability to handle the responsibilities of the job. Those first 100 days are also the time to set the tone of the reputation and impact you desire to create for the organization.
Whether you are new to the organization, new to the region, or promoted from within, you should be intentional in your effort to grasp as complete of an understanding as possible. At times, the job may seem overwhelming, but remember that you are not the first to take this step nor will you be the last. There is a network of professionals to help and mentor you, as well as resources for certain aspects of the job to help guide you through.
This toolkit was developed to help new and aspiring executive directors equip themselves with the depth of knowledge and understanding that will be required to successfully lead an EDD. The content of this toolkit is a small representation of the strategies developed, lessons learned, best practices implemented, and failures overcame of the countless regional leaders who have over the past 50 years developed the network of EDDs across the country. It is these pioneering leaders that build a strong foundation for future success — a success that continues with you.
Every Economic Development District will present unique challenges for new leaders. These challenges may include whether the new leader was an internal hire, if they are following a long-time well-respected director, or if they are expected to rebuild the organization. This webinar features steps to consider when “taking the reins” and building relationships in the community and region.
While organization financial management and operations may be daunting, they are also critical to the success of Economic Development Districts. Learn strategies to successfully manage these two areas including looking at revenue streams, understanding the role of your board, organization staffing, and governance.
As new Executive Directors get started in their roles, what should they be thinking about? How should they approach their first few months with intentionality? Given the enormous demands on an Executive Director’s time, how should they prioritize to lead effectively? View this webinar for insightful tips including how to use the above New Executive Directors Toolkit.
Economic Development Districts around the nation are experiencing unprecedented rates of turnover of executive directors. Often, new executive directors assume the position without any training or guidance from their predecessor. This hands-on workshop focuses on onboarding and orientation for those new to the job and those in line to become executive director in the near future.
“What does your organization do?” is often the question friends and family ask after you tell them you have a new job. For many new to the economic or regional development world, it can be challenging to respond given the broad range of programs and services offered combined with the inherent behind the scenes role of the organization.
As part of the new employee onboarding process, this primer is a useful tool to explain the organization’s unique nature and its role in the larger landscape of regional development across the United States. It is designed to complement existing materials new staff are provided when they start their jobs, and serve as a reference tool as they settle their new roles and continue to learn about the dynamic nature of the organization.
This guide accompanies the EDD Primer for Onboarding New Staff developed for Economic Development District (EDD) executive directors to incorporate into their new employee onboarding process. It is especially intended for staff that have not previously worked in an EDD, have no prior knowledge of the EDD, or have not been engaged in regional planning and development. It could also be used as part of the orientation process for new board members.
The guide was created to help explain the work of EDDs and their role in the national economic development landscape. EDA-designated EDDs across the nation have two primary commonalities: they undertake a regular Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process, and they meet certain economic distress criteria set forth by EDA. Beyond that, the programs and services they provide can range widely. The guide provides new staff with basic knowledge about the various roles of EDDs.
Designed for EDD executive directors—seasoned, new, or those on course to assume a leadership role—this interactive session focuses on three key factors for assuring a strong EDD: an active and engaged board, a strong and committed team of professionals, and a state association that advocates for EDDs at the state level and provides resources to EDDs directly.
Designed for executive directors in the position for less than three years, and for EDD staff on track to become executive directors, this workshop provides participants with insights into becoming an effective RDO leader.
What does progress in your community or region look like? How do you decide what to measure? Traditional economic metrics may not tell the whole story of how regions are changing over time. The materials from this interactive session benefit RDO planners, local officials, and other attendees by working to identify and measure change.
Data is critical to creating compelling and accurate regional plans. This session centers on opportunities and resources, including insights to improved community-level data, how to perform quick quality assurance, and available data tools at the federal and regional levels.
As small communities and regions continue to recover from the recession and pandemic, an entrepreneurship strategy can serve as a powerful, asset-based approach. This session highlights strategies, best practices, and resources available to build and nurture an entrepreneurial ecosystem in regions. It also explores ways to dismantle barriers to entrepreneurship and foster a more inclusive and equitable approach to economic development.
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