FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              April 11, 2005 

WILBER ATTENDS HEARTLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COURSE 

            Dr. Patti Wilber, director of the Walch Center for Business Development at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, was one of 70 students representing six states at the 18th annual Heartland Economic Development Course (EDC) April 2-7 in Excelsior Springs, Mo.

            The course allows participants to gain a better understanding of the full range of economic development strategies. The course instructs participants in ways to maximize the use of local and external resources and attempts to impart an understanding of the effects of global competition on local efforts.

            “With fierce competition among communities and regions for new sources of jobs, income and labor, enhanced professional skills and understanding of economic development techniques becomes absolutely critical for success,” said LaDene Bowen, course director.

            As the first economic development course targeted at professionals within the region, the curriculum for the Heartland EDC focuses on economic development factors relevant to the Great Plains states.

            The Heartland EDC is one of 20 similar courses accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Completion of the course is the first step toward meeting the educational prerequisites for sitting for the certified professional economic developer exam administered by the IEDC.

            The Heartland EDC is developed and directed by the Institute for Decision Making, Business and Community Services Division, University of Northern Iowa in cooperation with the Kansas Economic Development Alliance; Professional Developers of Iowa; Missouri Economic Development Council; Nebraska Economic Development Association; and the Oklahoma Economic Development Association.

-NW-

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