Community Analysis for Economic Development
September 25 - 27, 2007
Background
IInformation is critical to every economic development program. Communities need information to devise and implement an effective strategic plan. New business prospects must have detailed, accurate information about a community in order to make wise location decisions. Existing business and entrepreneurial programs require information on business trends, market potential, and competitive conditions. To provide these kinds of information, all economic development agencies need an understanding of data sources and availability, methods of analysis, and effective presentation techniques. The purpose of this 2 day course is to provide the fundamentals of community analysis in order to meet these critical information needs.
The course lays out a framework for information gathering, analysis, and presentation for a community. Since the community is the basic building block of economic development, the course is appropriate for practitioners and researchers at the community, multi-county, and state levels, and highlights business retention and expansion research.
The course may be applied toward an Advanced Certificate in Economic Development Research (non-degree) and/or toward the broader Mid-South Economic Development Professional designation offered through the UALR Center for Economic Development Education. (www.aiea.ualr.edu/econdev/) It also is part of a series of short courses in the BREI Business Retention and Expansion Professional certification program. (www.brei.org)
Who Should Attend
The course is for new researchers, experienced staff members who need a refresher course, or anyone seeking a better understanding of the critical community economic development data and research they encounter. Those who benefit the most include practicing economic and community developers and their staff, chamber of commerce staff, members of local economic development boards or other volunteer leaders, elected officials, government agency employees, workforce personnel, downtown and neighborhood developers, planners, and educators.
Course Content and Faculty
The course provides participants with instruction in information-gathering, analysis, presentation, and where to get help. It includes several case studies and a hands-on treatment designed to link community research with the day-to-day practices of economic development. The course is led by Dr. Ron Swager, CEcD, Director of the Center for Economic Development Education at IEA. He and several IEA and economic development research specialists serve as instructors.
You may register by completing and faxing our registration
form.
Course Topics
Tuesday, September 25, 12:30 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Registration
Introduction: The Comprehensive Research Program
Existing and Entrepreneurial Business
Types and Sources of Information
Wednesday, September 26, 8:00 a.m.—5:30 p.m.
Survey Analysis; Survey
Exercise
Decision Support Exercise
New and Existing Business Prospect Analysis
Community Analysis for BR&E
Community Analysis
Technology/Websites
Thursday, September 27, 8:00 a.m.—12:30 p.m.
Regional Analysis/GIS
Communicating Results
Help in the Time of Need (and Sooner)
Course Evaluation & Conclusion
Costs
The cost of the course ($225) covers all instructional expenses, including course
materials. Break refreshments are provided. Additional expenses should be anticipated
for lodging, meals, transportation, etc.
Sponsors
Community Analysis for Economic Development is co-sponsored by the Arkansas Economic Developers association, the Arkansas Partnership, and the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation.
  
Lodging
The closest hotel to the Reynolds Center is the Hilton Little
Rock Metro Center, located at the southeast corner of University
Avenue and Interstate 630 (1.1 miles north). As our host
hotel, the Hilton offers a reduced rate of $93 per night
to UALR course participants. The number is 501-664-5020.
When making reservations, please ask for “local reservations” and
mention that you are attending the UALR Economic Development
Course. Rooms are reserved on a space available basis. Other
hotels frequently used by our participants include the Holiday
Inn Select, Hampton Inn, The Peabody Hotel, and La Quinta
Inn.
Location and Transportation
The course is held at the Reynolds Center for Business and
Economic Development, a new state-of-the-art educational
and research facility on the campus of the University of
Arkansas at Little Rock. Located at 2801 South University
Avenue, the Reynolds Center is conveniently situated at the
northwestern edge of the campus. Parking for the Reynolds
Center is available in several lots directly north and east
of the building.
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