Led by The University of Alabama, four universities, including Fort Worth’s Texas Christian University, united to form a new economic development leadership executive education program. Clemson University, the University of Southern Mississippi and TCU joined UA in this national program.
“Each participant will return to their communities better prepared to create quality jobs, enhance local revenues and engage the community in active, broad-based economic development,” Neal Wade, the leading architect of the program and director of UA’s Economic Development Academy, said in a news release. “The program targeted the best and brightest economic development professionals from across the country and, with this first class, we certainly achieved our objective.”
The inaugural two-week class for the Advanced Economic Development Leadership program will begin its one week sessions in February and August, the release stated.
The February session will be held on TCU’s campus. According to the release, 47 mid and senior level economic development professionals, representing organizations and governments nationwide, were accepted for the inaugural program.
“The partnership is unique in that it not only brings together subject matter experts in the academic field of economic development but also practitioners that face the real–life challenges in city planning, economic diversification and leadership development,” Jim Roach, executive director of TCU Neeley Executive Education, said in the release. “These two perspectives will provide an exceptional learning opportunity for professionals.”
According to the news release, the program has exceeded its original participant goal and currently has a waiting list for the 2019 class.
https://advancedeconomicdevelopmentleadership.com/