WEDG Director attends HEDC conference

Washington Economic Development Group Executive Director Mary Audia was one of 91 economic development professionals to attend the Heartland Economic Development Course (HEDC) in Blue Springs, Missouri last month.

Audia said the trip was informative.

“There (were) a variety of topics and speakers from all throughout the Midwest,” she said. “I learned the latest in best practices regarding economic development and met a lot of new people, building my base of connections, friends and resources for WEDG.”

Heartland attendees receive fundamental economic development training on topics ranging from business, retention and expansion, workforce development, real estate, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, ethics, and managing economic development organizations.

The 2022 HEDC class included representatives from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Illinois, trained by nationally recognized faculty from within the profession of economic development. HEDC is coordinated by the Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa and is accredited by the International Economic Development Council.

“Heartland students experience a variety of presentations, best practices and networking opportunities that they can apply back in their own organizations and communities,” HEDC Board Chair Allen Kunkle said. “Heartland provides a solid foundation upon which each developer can build their base of knowledge and experience.”

The Heartland Economic Development Course is a partnership of the Kansas Economic Development Alliance, Professional Developers of Iowa, Missouri Economic Development Council, Nebraska Economic Developers Association, Select Oklahoma, and the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development.