Basic Economic Development
- Chapel Hill, NCJuly 27 - 30, 2026
July 27 - July 30, 2026 | Full Day Schedule | Chapel Hill, NC | Registration Fee: $715
This introductory course is designed for economic development professionals employed by public, nonprofit, and private organizations and individuals new to the field. It is also appropriate for more experienced professionals seeking to update their knowledge and skills. Full participation is required to receive credit.
The course is a comprehensive educational experience that integrates theoretical and practical perspectives and provides participants with the foundation needed to organize, plan, and implement economic development programs. Expert instructors will cover trends, strategies, and the core tools of the trade. This course is officially accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and fulfills a requirement needed to sit for the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) exam. It is also a required course for the NC Certified Economic Developer (NCCED) designation.
Course sessions include:
- Trends in Economic Development
- Ethical Dilemmas
- Strategic Planning
- Workforce Development
- Business Attraction and Site Selection
- Business Retention and Expansion
- Entrepreneurship
- Development Finance
- Real Estate Development
- Community Development
- Managing EDOs
AGENDA
The 2026 Agenda still to be announced but you can view the 2025 Agenda under the "Materials" tab for reference.
CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION
CERTIFICATION:
The course is accredited by the International Economic Development Council and qualifies as a professional development training requirement needed to sit for the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) examination. The course is also required for the NC Certified Economic Developer (NCCED) program.
Any credits earned from this program are not applicable toward an academic degree at UNC.
CONTINUTION EDUCATION CREDITS:
For more information on certifications or continuing education credits, please see the Continuing Professional Education page.
REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance: Full participation is required to receive credit.
Pre-requisites: There are no pre-requisites to register for this program.
Additional information
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
The School of Government is grateful to offer a number of scholarship and discount opportunities for public officials who wish to participate in our continuing education programs. Scholarships and discounts are available both internally through the School and through the generous support of partnering organizations. Learn more about the range of these opportunities on our Scholarship Discount Opportunities page.
HOTEL INFORMATION
Please see the School’s list of recommended area hotels.
PARKING INFORMATION
Parking details will be provided to you by your program manager the week prior to the program. Additional directions and parking information can be found on our Visitor Information page.
MATERIALS
Program materials will be available in CANVAS as they are received from instructors. Instructions for accessing or creating a log-in to CANVAS can be found on the program materials site.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Course participants who cancel their registration more than 7 calendar days before the course start date will receive a full refund. Otherwise, participants will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. More information can be found in the full cancellation and refund policy.
International Economic Development Council Website
1275 K Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005-4083
Phone: (202) 223-7800 | Fax: (202) 223-4745
- Chapel Hill, NCJuly 27 - 30, 2026School of Government
Knapp-Sanders Building
Chapel Hill, NC 27514View Cancellation PolicyCourse participants who cancel their registration on or before July 19, 2026 will receive a full refund. No refund will be made for cancellations on or after July 20, 2026, but you will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. Click here to view the School’s full cancellation and refund policy.$715.00Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.
