ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS MORE THAN JUST ABOUT JOBS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT
You know there’s more; much more. Today’s economic development professional is responsible for taking the lead in developing an overarching marketing plan that will help the community, region, or state expand its reach and establish a solid pro-business environment.
But just how does the Economic Development Pro go about doing this given the changes taking place in today’s marketplace?
You know the story. You’ve been engaged in economic development for some time. You’ve learned from your peers, and you’ve taken courses to get additional credentials. Perhaps you’ve noticed the traditional marketing methods of interruption marketing such as advertising and direct mail aren’t working like they used to. A shift has taken place.
Let’s take a guess. You’ve had a website for a number of years. You’re surrounded by a great team. You provide solid information to help the companies you serve.
You’ve posted articles, maybe even have a steady blog… Yet, you’re not getting the leads you expected. And some of the job and capital investment numbers associated with projects announced in recent years have fallen short of your community’s expectations. You know something has to change, but you don’t know what to change or how.
The Internet has brought about a revolution that empowers people with information like never before. With the ability to create, broadcast, and share information online, it is easier than ever for communities to reach target audiences around the globe and favorably position themselves to accomplish their economic development goals and objectives.
We invite you to become the economic development change agent to move your community forward.
That’s why we’re here! EconDevToday is focused on equipping state, regional, and local economic developers with the marketing and management insights they need to be successful.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple – to help you become extraordinarily successful in digital economic development marketing.
We’re About Economic Development
EconDevToday was born out of a passion to take the best economic development marketing practices and position them within easy reach of today’s community leader. We are dedicated to advancing the economic development profession by providing you with tools, resources, insight, and inspiration to enable you to be successful in your career. This is accomplished through our digital channels including media, membership, professional directories, training modules, and a library of economic development resources.
Our Founder – Brent Sheffler
For more than three decades, Brent Sheffler helped local, regional, and state economic development agencies prepare award winning economic development marketing strategies.
He served under five Governors in the Commonwealth of Virginia, conducted numerous domestic and international marketing missions, and led project managers in the development of individual marketing plans targeting advanced manufacturing sectors. He initiated, hosted, and produced the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Third Wednesday Webinar series. He became a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) before the turn of the century, and holds a B.S., M.S., and an MBA. Brent says,
All that’s fine and good, but I’m just an ordinary guy whose passion lies in helping people become successful digital economic development marketers in their communities.
Our Values
What Do We Do?
EconDevToday provides you with articles, digital guides, and eBooks for your professional growth as a leader in economic development. You will discover ways to significantly and positively impact your community’s economic development programs in entrepreneurship, sustained growth, business retention and expansion, business attraction, workforce development, tourism and trade. We share tips, tools, and resources to help you and your community carry out an effective economic development program. Everything we do is about helping you become a successful economic developer in your community.
Direction and Resources – When You Need Them Most (coming soon)
EconDevToday provides online training and workshops to enhance your skills in economic development, content marketing, and digital marketing. In addition to webinars and podcasts, we offer web-based learning modules and self-paced courses on topics that economic developers need to cover every day.
We know you are busy, and we know you need access to resources now. There’s no need to have to wait for a conference or a workshop that takes place weeks or months from now. There’s no need to bother making special travel arrangements to go to a distant location just to get what you need now. Get started today.
Resources Made For You
- Well-researched with topics that address your content marketing and digital messaging needs
- Designed for those who want to become leaders in economic development with insider tips from top performing economic development pros
- Loaded with guidance and advice from brand consultants, content marketers, and digital marketing experts
- Customized to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and resources to develop practical skills in economic development
Professional Directories
Our members have an opportunity to create a professional profile (coming soon) and be listed in one or more of our directories. Directories include:
- Directory of Economic Developers (coming soon)
- Directory of Site Selection Consultants (coming soon)
- Directory of Economic Development Marketing and Communications Pros (coming soon)
Membership
Who’s in? We invite everyone who has an interest in economic development to sign-up and become part of our special community. Members of EconDevToday include individuals, students, economic developers, community leaders, downtown development professionals, site selection consultants, municipalities, chambers of commerce, workforce development authorities, universities, and private and institutional investors and developers.
Members have exclusive access to resources, training modules, and a unique level of professional connectivity only EconDevToday provides.
We’re Not Stopping Here
EconDevToday serves to guide people to become professional economic developers and to think like leaders. In doing so, we continuously look for new ways to help people apply new processes and leverage digital technology. Our methods may change over time. We’ll continue to adapt and expand to ensure that the information made available is topical, accurate, and focused to serve you, economic developers, community leaders, and site selection consultants – to help you grow professionally, no matter where you are in your career.
