Bethany J. Miller, CEcD

Once again, “conference season” is fast approaching in the economic development world. Between annual meetings, national summits, and other fall conference gatherings, this time of year requires a massive investment of your budget and time. And, like everything else, getting the most out of your time on the road could likely benefit from a little TLC. A refresh of sorts to ensure that you’re tackling things in the most objective manner and getting the biggest bang for your buck. Here are...

Professional development looks different for every economic developer, but for many practitioners, earning the Certified Economic Developer designation is one of the most meaningful and challenging milestones in the field. I earned my CEcD in 2017, and the experience is still vivid. The night before I was scheduled to leave Richmond for Buffalo, New York, to attend the Future Forum Conference and sit for my exams, a torrential downpour grounded air traffic and closed the road leading to the...

Economic development strategies take serious time, money, and community energy to create. They often involve outside consultants, dozens of stakeholders, and deep conversations about where a community is headed. But once the plan is adopted, the real question becomes: what happens in the years before the next big planning process begins? Community priorities rarely stand still. Leadership changes. Market conditions shift. Data center demand may surge, splitting consensus on the best...