Spectrum - Volume 20 Issue 18 January 29, 1998 - Community leaders complete economic-development institute

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Community leaders complete economic-development institute
Fifty community leaders and state economic-development officials recently completed the Virginia Institute for Economic Development (VIED), sponsored by Virginia Tech's Public Service Programs, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
Participants in this year's institute, held at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, represented five counties, 15 towns, and eight cities from around the state. This was the fifteenth offering of the annual event.
The VIED provides training in the economic-development process and outlines how this process is used to benefit Virginia's communities in furthering economic growth.
"The institute focuses on helping community leaders learn about economic-development programs at state, regional, community, and local levels. It helps participants expand their network of key economic-development leaders and apply knowledge of programs to enhance community economic development," said Ellen Miller, economic-development specialist in Public Service Programs and organizer of the event.
"The VIED included an excellent combination of topics and speakers that addressed current issues and foundations of economic development," said participant Greg Edwards with the Mid-Atlantic Port Authority.
The basic course is a non-credit course in community economic development leading to a certificate of study in economic development. It includes five days of seminars and six weeks of home study. Experienced economic-development practitioners from around the state lead the seminars.