Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service and Texas Economic Development Council Launch Certification Program for Texas Economic Development Professionals
The Texas economy is officially the eighth largest economy in the world, valued at more than $2.4 trillion, and the state has the largest labor force ever in the state’s history, with more than 15.3 million Texans in the workforce. These statistics and others like them led the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) to introduce a Texas-centric certification program for Texas economic development professionals.
The Certified Texas Economic Developer (CTED) Certification Program, launched in June, is an expert-led, peer-driven program for active economic development professionals with an eight-course curriculum tailored to the state’s needs. TEEX and TEDC have been collaborating on economic development training programs for more than 60 years.
“With the phenomenal growth of our state and our favorable business climate over many years, introducing this program in conjunction with our long-time partner, TEEX, was a natural fit,” said Carlton Schwab, president and CEO of TEDC. “The program provides participants with in-depth knowledge of economic development principles, theory and practice so they are better prepared to lead and support Texas economic development organizations and initiatives.”
“This new Texas-specific certification program for economic development professionals supports our state’s ongoing, record-breaking achievements in economic development,” said Adriana Cruz, executive director of the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, within the Office of the Governor. “In Texas, economic development is a team effort, and our success is thanks to the highly qualified economic developers across Texas who are dedicated to attracting new and expanded businesses to our state while creating new job opportunities for hardworking Texans.”
“CTED certification is the highest distinction of knowledge and credibility for Texas-based economic development practitioners and Texas’ first and only professional certification in economic development,” said Lisa Mutchler, director of TEEX’s Business and Cybersecurity Division. “Completing the program allows participants to take their career to the next level, while enhancing the competitiveness of our state.”
Seventeen participants attended the first two courses of the program: Leadership and Professionalism and Strategic Planning. Two additional modules are scheduled for early October: Innovative Strategies for Business Retention and Expansion, and Advanced Real Estate Development and Reuse. The other four modules in the program are: Innovation and Entrepreneurial Strategies, Talent Ecosystem and Workforce Development, Advanced Economic Development Finance, and a group project. The courses can be taken in any order, with the group project being the final course. The program is designed to be from 12 to 18 months in length, and each course is from eight to 12 hours long and conducted in-person at a TEEX facility in College Station.
To qualify for the program, participants must be an active TEDC member in good standing, have successfully completed the TEEX-led TEDC Texas Basic Economic Development Course and have attended a TEDC Economic Development Sales Tax Workshop within the past two years. Qualifying participants also must currently be (or have been) a full-time, paid economic development practitioner for three consecutive years in Texas.
For more information about the program and to apply, visit https://texasedc.org/programs/certified-texas-economic-developer-cted-program.
Distributed by:
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
Vita Vaughn | Director of Marketing and Communications/CMO
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