EDFP Certification Program

NDC Training Travels to the GO Zone

In the wake of the devastating hurricane season of 2005 NDC launched a Hurricane Recovery Initiative, offering at little or no cost financial and technical resources to communities in the Gulf facing the massive task of completely rebuilding themselves.  As part of that effort, NDC teamed up with the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) to offer NDC’s EDFP Certification Program in Hattiesburg.  Economic development practitioners, university educators and elected officials from four states availed themselves of the opportunity.  With the rigorous four-course certification training behind them, participants are well-equipped to be essential contributors in the on-going rebuilding efforts in the Gulf region. 

Brian Richard, Director of Regional Analysis at the Trent Lott Center of Excellence for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship at USM and training participant says, “two years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the need for redevelopment along the Gulf Coast remains as strong as ever.  Thousands of families still live in travel trailers and commercial buildings sit as shells.  The skills provided to development professionals in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana by NDC’s training will allow us to rebuild faster with higher quality development.” 

NDC congratulates the new class of EDFP graduates in Hattiesburg for their dedication and enthusiasm.  Obtaining EDFP certification requires a significant personal and professional commitment to attend each five-day course, participate in team assignments and classroom discussions, and successfully complete each exam – a challenge that this group readily accepted.

NDC also recognizes the efforts of Mary Ann Iverson and Brian Richard of USM for their diligent efforts to make the training a valuable opportunity for practitioners in the GO Zone.  Their hard work certainly paid off.