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Community
August 6 - 19, 2016
13
Economic development program manager earns certified designation
Police offering firearms safety class The Chandler Police Department’s firearms unit will host a firearms safety class at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Main Precinct Community Room, 250 E. Chicago St. Attendees will receive a free cable gun lock. This class was built with parents and caregivers in mind. This class will provide the foundation for responsible gun
ownership. Those who neither own, nor plan on owning a firearm, can also benefit from the class theme: keeping firearms out of the hands of children. Class size is limited to 90 participants, which is on a first-come-first-serve basis. For more information, contact Detective Seth Tyler at 480- 782-4105.
James Smith, economic development program manager, with the City of Chandler’s Economic Development Division, recently earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a national recognition that denotes a mastery of skills in economic development, professional attainment and a commitment to personal and professional growth. The CEcD exam was administered by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) this June in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the Hyatt Regency Tulsa. Smith was the only representative from Arizona who completed and passed the exam. With more than 17 years of economic development experience, Smith manages the City’s office, industrial and retail projects, including attraction, retention and expansion. Smith also has worked on redevelopment programs, including administering Chandler’s Infill Incentive Plan, which encourages private reuse/redevelopment of existing commercial centers, and recently worked on implementation of the city’s adaptive reuse program. The CEcD designation recognizes qualified and dedicated practitioners in the economic development field and sets the standard of excellence within the profession. Candidates must pass a rigorous and comprehensive examination, which has three parts and spans two days. The exam tests a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency and judgment in the following key areas of economic development:
James Smith
business retention and expansion; finance & credit analysis; marketing and attraction; strategic planning; entrepreneurial and small business development; managing economic development organizations; neighborhood development strategies; real estate development and reuse; technologyled economic development; and workforce development strategies. As highly competent economic development professionals, Certified Economic Developers work with public officials, business leaders and community members to create leadership to build upon and maximize the economic development sector. Excellence in the economic development profession improves the wellbeing, quality of life and opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities. There are more than 1,100 active CEcDs in the United States.