WEDA Academy Update – Kathy Heady, Academy Manager
It is hard to believe that summer is winding down and we are rapidly approaching the WEDA Fall Best Practices Conference at the end of September. I look forward to seeing many of you at the conference and WEDA Academy program in Wausau.
On August 9, the WEDA Academy held its second webinar of 2023, An Economic Developer’s Introduction to Municipal Engineering. A big thank you to course instructors – Melissa Hunt, CEcD, EDFP; Gary A. Blazek, PE, Principal, Vierbicher; and Timothy Schleeper, PE, Senior Project Manager, Vierbicher. This course introduced participants to municipal engineering concepts and terms with a focus on aspects that may impact the work of the economic developer. Best practices and community examples were highlighted.
On September 27 at the Jefferson Street Inn, Wausau, the WEDA Academy will be hosting an in-person comprehensive program Tax Increment Financing 201. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a key tool available for local governments to facilitate economic development and job creation in Wisconsin. Understanding how to effectively utilize TIF is an essential skill for many economic developers. Through this program, attendees will have an opportunity to build their knowledge of TIF in an interactive and engaging course format. Our highly experienced instructors for this course are Philip Cosson, CIPMA, Senior Municipal Advisor/Board Chair and Greg Johnson, CIPMA, Senior Municipal Advisor, Ehlers; Randy Fifrick, Economic Development Manager, City of Wausau, Community Development Department and Melissa Hunt, CEcD, EDFP. The program will run from 9:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Registration is open at weda.org.
The final Academy webinar for 2023 will be Industrial & Business Park Development on November 8. Program details are being finalized and should be available by the Best Practices Conference. Planning will be underway for the 2024 slate of Academy programs later this fall. I welcome any ideas you may have on program topics and speakers. Stop by at the WEDA booth at the conference or reach out to me at kheady@weda.org if you have any questions or ideas for WEDA Academy programming.
I hope that you will be able to join us for one or more of these exciting and affordable educational opportunities. As a reminder, be sure to look for approved credits/points for continuing education/recertification on the course registration information.
