The University of Georgia developed the Georgia Certified Economic Developer Program. This was developed to help economic developers improve their effectiveness and performance.

1. Georgia Certified
Economic
Developer
Program
Jennifer Nelson
Public Service Faculty

2. Change in Population, 2010-2015
36 counties
have
negative
natural
increase
99 counties
have
negative net
migration
78
counties
have lost
population
since 2010
7 counties
account for
2/3 of all
population
growth since
2010
Source: US Census Bureau

3. NOT Unique to Georgia

5. UGA’s outreach
work provides
building blocks
for creating,
attracting, and
retaining jobs
HELPING BUILD CAPACITY
Small Business Development
Leadership Development
Economic Development Training
Helping Communities Develop Economic
and Workforce Development Strategies
Revitalizing Downtowns
Tools for Decision-Making

6. Former and Current GEDA Board of
Directors
• Promote excellence in
government
• 90 years of serving the state
• Experienced in training and
education

7. Georgia Economic Development
Association
GEDA Board Members play an
active role in serving as Advisory
Council members and current class
participants.
• Key stakeholder in identifying the
need for a Georgia certification
program
• Georgia’s economic
development association with
over 650 members
• Provides professional
development scholarship funds
for GCED

8. • Stakeholders need
• Research by faculty & input
by subject matter experts
• Georgia specific content
• Cost effective
• Taught in central locations
around Georgia
• Practical, skills-based
training with immediate
application
• Grounded in a competency
cluster framework that
reflects internationally
recognized skills & abilities.

9. Competency clusters
used in GCED program
design:
• Professionalism &
Initiative
• Technical & Industry
Knowledge
• Analyzing, Assessing
and Problem Solving
• Relationship Building
• Leadership and
Influence
The GCED Program also offers a
custom Georgia textbook.

10. GCED Program Overview
“The GCED program has also
expanded my perspective…the
content learned in these courses
brought forth a new awareness.”
Stephanie Scearce, Project Manager,
Georgia Department of Economic
Development
• Five core classes
• Two elective tracks
• Industry Knowledge
• Leadership Development
• 60 hours course work;
capstone project
• 738 registrations to date

11. FIRST Georgia
CERTIFIED ECONOMIC DEVELOPER
Larry Brooks Walker County
• Learned
immediately
applicable tools
• Allowed existing
industry to expand
and double footprint
• New investment,
jobs, and
opportunities for
citizens

12. Impact in Georgia:
• 91 counties served
(57%)
• 58 in Georgia’s
most economically
depressed based on
unemployment
rates, per capita
income, and
incomes below
poverty level.
159 counties in
Georgia

13. Impact in Georgia:
• Growth & broader outreach
• Recognizing impact, GA Power has
contributed scholarships for 25 students
for the past 2 years.
• New participants entering the program
• Creating impact for long term success
• Collaboration with internal and external
partners and stakeholders
Georgia Power’s Lenn Chandler
presents CVIOG Director Laura
Meadows with GCED
scholarship funds.

14. Impact in Georgia:
• Additional graduates
FIRST CERTIFIED ECONOMIC DEVELOPER
Larry Brooks Walker County“Through the lessons learned & experiences I’ve had while participating in the
GCED program, I feel confident that I’m in a stronger position to better serve
my community.
I walk away from this journey with a more fine-tuned understanding of
economic development principles, practices, and concepts and I have the
tools needed to succeed.”
Jill Bowen, Project Manager, Peach County Development Authority

17. The Georgia Certified Economic
Developer Program = An Engine of
Change in Georgia
Former and Current GEDA Board of
Directors
• Work across jurisdictional lines
• Exchange ideas & information
• Seek new ways of thinking
• Explore best practices to drive
economic development success in
Georgia