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Leadership Forums on Local Economic Development

 
The Academy and CALED are pleased to offer Economic Development Leadership Forums to guide city and county elected officials and other influential community representatives in positively shaping their economies. For the past five years, we have been providing these forums for communities across California. Each Leadership Forum is tailored to the unique needs of a specific community or geographic area. They are designed to provide the elected officials, economic development-related boards and commissions, workforce organizations, and senior staff with the knowledge they need to make solid decisions for their community and its citizens.

Understanding the economic development process, gives local leaders a competitive edge and the ability to weigh the benefits and risks of decisions they face almost daily.

A typical half-day Leadership Forum includes presentations and facilitated discussions on:
  • What economic development is
  • Why it is important to a community
  • Economic development strategies
  • Economic development resources
  • Common traits of successful programs
  • The competition
  • Economic development tools
  • Measuring and selling success
  • How local leaders play a critical role
  • The partnerships that create prosperity
  • Trends and issues
Each Forum is also designed to spotlight and support existing economic development efforts. We help communities build on what they have and become more adept at shaping a business climate that will nurture local industry and be attractive for new investments.

Each host community is responsible for event logistics, refreshments, invitations, and RSVPs. CALED and The Academy will do advance work in tailoring the event to meet local needs, will select appropriate handout and presentation material, and will provide a highly qualified economic development professional/trainer to lead the process.

Cost:
The Community pays $2,500 plus Team Travel Expenses.
CALED and The Academy pick up all other support costs.
For additional information or to schedule an Economic Development Leadership Forum for your community, contact:

Gurbax Sahota
916/448-8252 Extension 105

 

Professional Advisory Service (PAS)

Provided as a Cooperative Service of CALED and The Academy

Purpose

To bring experienced economic development professionals into a community to focus on broad issues or specific challenges and to make recommendations that result in a stronger local economy and/or a more viable project. Although the descriptions below use the word "community," these services work equally well with an individual organization that is undertaking an economic development project.

Desired Outcomes

Greater understanding of the organization's assets and liabilities, its opportunities and challenges, and implementation options with available resources

A series of recommendations (implementation options) for the community or organization's leaders to consider in addressing their specific challenges

The Host Community's Responsibilities
  • Work with CALED/Academy staff, customizing the PAS process to get the best return on everyone's investment of time/resources and decide which issues should be the focus of the PAS
  • Set up the interviews with key local leaders
  • Decide whether the PAS Team's recommendations will be presented to one person, to a small group of leaders in a private setting, or to local officials in a public session
  • When appropriate, advise local elected officials about the process and the importance of Council's support and briefs key City staff or arranges for a CALED/Academy briefing of key people
  • Works with CALED/Academy staff to prepare briefing packets for each PAS Team member, selecting local plans, strategies, demographics, brief backgrounds on those being interviewed, etc. and mails this material to individual Team members at least a week before the on-site visit.
  • Secures locations for the PAS process, including two small rooms that work well for relaxed conversations and a location for the presentations, and makes reservations for lunch.
  • If an overnight is necessary, makes arrangements with a local hotel
  • If appropriate, arranges for a Team tour of the community or project area
Academy/CALED's Responsibilities
  • Conduct an on-site assessment of the community and works with City staff to shape the PAS
  • Recommend the types of people to be interviewed.
  • If necessary, brief selected staff and local leaders
  • Select, brief, and confirm the PAS Team members
  • Work with local staff in the selection of briefing materials for PAS Team review
  • Set the agenda and oversee the process
  • Participate in the interviews and in presenting the results, observations, and recommendations
Cost: The Community or local organization normally pays $2,800 plus Team Travel Expenses. The Academy/CALED picks up the costs of its staff and all other support costs.