Economic Development Certificate

This certificate is designed to give the participant an in-depth look at the economic development process from the perspective of both government agency and private sector developer. The instruction will cover the current tools available, the latest in viable development strategies and the critical elements economic development professionals and executive level administrators need to know for their communities to prosper and to create secure and enforceable development agreements.

Register 

Download and complete the Certificate Registration form.

Certificate topics

The program consists of the following seven core modules:

• Introduction to economic development
• What tools do we use and how do we use them: soft tools and hard finance tools
• A day with developers
• Housing and mixed use strategies
• What economic development professionals need to know about housing and mixed use developments
• Development negotiations, how do we get there?
• Development pro-formas, bond ratings, and outside advice

Program at a glance

All students must complete ninety hours of training in seven monthly sessions over an eight-month period. The program is deliberately scheduled to span two calendar years so the cost of certification can be spread over two budget cycles. Students who complete the economic development coursework will receive a certificate from the Hamline School of Business Public Administration program. Cost for the program is $2,650.

Time requirements

Training will occur over eight months. Training sessions will be held during the second week of each month, and participants will commit to seven thirteen-hour sessions for the entire program. Participants will advance through training with the same group of peers, commonly called a “cohort.”

Schedule

Session 1: Thursday, September 19, 2013 and Friday, September 20, 2013
Session 2: Thursday, October 17, 2013 and Friday, October 18, 2013
Session 3: Thursday, November 21, 2013 and Friday, November 22, 2013
Session 4: Thursday, January 16, 2014 and Friday, January 17, 2014
Session 5: Thursday, February 20, 2014 and Friday, February 21, 2014
Session 6: Thursday, March 20, 2014 and Friday, March 21, 2014
Session 7: Thursday, April 17, 2014 and Friday, April 18, 2014

Each session will be scheduled as follows:
Thursday sessions:  Noon - 6 p.m.
Friday sessions:  8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Degree Candidacy

All participants are eligible to earn the certificates regardless of prior academic experience.  Completion of the program can result in one master's level elective course (4 credits) for eligible participants who submit proof of an undergraduate degree in the beginning of the program.  Those eligible master's level participants who choose to continue working toward the Master of Arts in Public Administration at Hamline University must meet the requirements for admission to the Hamline School of Business.