State of the Association: WEDA President and CEO Mary Perry
WEDA President and CEO Mary Perry
Spring is in the air! It is a time of year when we enjoy more daylight and warmth, and our senses come alive with the sights and sounds of Spring. There are many sounds that accompany this season, but in our profession, we love the sound of economic development: the roar of engines powering bulldozers, dump trucks, graders and cranes, and the rhythmic beat of the pile driving machines. We hope you are enjoying these sights and sounds of Spring in your communities!
WEDA has a lot in store for you this spring – and into summer and fall. So please SAVE THESE UPCOMING DATES:
April 20 – WEDA and Baker Tilly will team up to bring you a high impact webinar covering shelved projects that may now be financially feasible using Environmental Remediation Tax Incremental Districts (ERTIDs). Attendees will come away with understanding the new ERTID law which will provide communities with greater TIF flexibility and the ability to address the redevelopment of properties contaminated with hazardous material like asbestos and lead. Presenters will provide redevelopment scenarios where idle school and medical buildings are transformed into much needed workforce housing. Stay tuned for more information…
May 4 – The WEDA Academy brings you its latest educational offering: Exploring Opportunities in Freight Rail. Learn all about the industry as well as benefits and challenges associated with rail. As an added bonus, you will learn about potential funding resources to build your business expansion project budget.
May-June – WEDA will partner with WEDC to provide training to Wisconsin non-profit organizations that provide technical and financial assistance services to ethnic and diverse businesses.
June 2 – The FDIC and WEDA will team up with CRA Network lenders to bring you information on Community Reinvestment Act modernization and help clarify eligible activities. Examiners will be on board to answer questions about projects under consideration by communities.
August 3 – WEDA Placemaking Academy. SAVE THE DATE if you want to learn more about creating your quality place in your community.
September 12-15 – The Wisconsin Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC) comes to Pewaukee. Do you plan to pursue the IEDC Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential? If so, SAVE THESE DATES. The BEDC is designed to provide an understanding of the basic concepts, theories, methods, and practice of economic development and will be taught by leading economic development experts.
September 28-30 – Best Practices Conference will be held in La Crosse, WI this year – a location that continues to be one of our members’ favorite areas for a fall conference! We are also putting out an RFP for host cities for 2023 conferences. Furthermore, plans are underway for the annual Community and Economic Development Awards. This fall, the awards ceremony will take place as part of the Best Practices Conference. Your community may have the perfect project or program that should be highlighted and WEDA is thrilled to announce expanded categories so that all projects – big and small, urban and rural—can compete. The nomination period will open soon! Stay tuned…
Your continued support of WEDA during these trying times is extremely appreciated. With your support WEDA will continue to bring you effective legislative advocacy for economic development, CRA Network services, and exciting economic development education programming through the WEDA Academy.
If you’re not a WEDA member, why not? You’re certainly missing out. So act quickly and join TODAY, as membership rates will be increasing in the near future. Click here to investigate WEDA membership, or simply give me a call 414-699-3917.
