GGEDC to host ‘Economic Development Training for Local Leadership’

Economic Development Training coming to McKinley County

GGEDC to host ‘Economic Development Training for Local Leadership’

Gallup, NM – Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) is set to conduct a comprehensive training course targeted for local elected officials and community stakeholders on basic economic development concepts and issues affecting the Gallup-McKinley County area. Nationally recognized certified economic developers (CEcD) are to deliver two and a half days of training at the newly renovated El Morro Theater in downtown Gallup, NM.

Slated for June 8-10, 2015, Economic Development Training for Local Leadership provides innovative and leading edge education in both the fundamentals and new concepts in economic development.

Tommy Haws, the president of Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation, said Gallup-McKinley County is implementing proactive initiatives to spawn economic growth.

“The level of interest for the training, particularly among city, county, and tribal representatives, has been very strong”, Haws said. “This is a sold-out event and speaks to the momentum in McKinley County for advancing and diversifying our economy”.

The interactive presentation includes topics like:

• What economic development is and why it is important to a community
• Common traits of successful economic development programs
• Establishing priorities and goals
• Economic development incentives, resources and tools
• Deal structure, due diligence
• Ethics in economic development

GGEDC's Economic Development Training can:

• Answer community leaders' key questions about what Economic Development professionals do and why it's important.
• Provide a way to promote economic development to local policymakers.
• Teach community leaders about the principles of economic development.
• Build consensus on economic development strategies.
• Engage local policymakers in discussions on critical issues in the context of today's economy, including strategic plans and economic development efforts.
• Demonstrate the value of economic development professionals in the community.

Keynote speaker Deputy Cabinet Secretary Barbara Brazil from the New Mexico Economic Development Department will engage attendees with her presentation, the State of the State. Over the duration of the course, attendees will discuss the impact of successful economic development for local economies, as well as explore core economic development topics and current trends.

According to the NM Economic Databook provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, with a 9.6% unemployment rate, McKinley County has the third highest unemployment rate of all 33 counties in New Mexico, above the state average of 6.1%. Lack of job prospects has contributed to a population decline. From 2000 to 2010, the population of McKinley County declined by 3,306 individuals.

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About Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation

Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation i(GGEDC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation organized around the experience and talent of its Board of Directors and the professional management and economic development expertise of its Executive Director. GGEDC serves as the official Economic Development Organization for the City of Gallup and McKinley County. GGEDC adheres to the economic development principles of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

For more information on Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation, visit www.GallupEDC.com