Overview

Three distinct classes and two extended education classes make up the training program. Attendance by economic development professional staff, elected officials, and attorneys—as well as DDA Board Members—in all past sessions have enriched the experience, making it a true professional development and networking opportunity as well as just a training class. All the speakers are recognized leaders in Georgia’s economic development profession.

Basic Training

The Basic Training class was designed specifically to meet the legal requirement in Georgia for downtown development authority board members to receive 8 hours of training within one year of appointment (per Georgia Code sections 36-42D-7).

View the class outline.

Advanced Topics

The Advanced Topics class is offered as a follow-up opportunity for veteran DDA members who want to further their knowledge and skills in downtown development authority work. It especially focuses on deal making, legal issues, project case studies, and interactions with local government. We strongly recommend first completing either the Basic Training class or the ACCG/GMA Economic Development class.

Law Seminars

The one-day Law Seminars cover aspects of Georgia law that relate to numerous activities central to the operation of an active development authority. Topics include development and redevelopment law, open meetings, conflicts of interest, project financing, taxation, zoning and land use, public-private partnerships, and intergovernmental agreements. Attorneys receive continuing legal education credits for attending these programs. One of these law seminars is held once each year in the Atlanta area. There are two different courses, offered in alternate years—downtown development law in odd-numbered years and industrial/economic development law in even-numbered years.

Executive Leadership & Management Institute

The Executive Leadership & Management Institute is designed to provide development authority executives with personal & professional leadership and administrative management skills in an intense and compact program. A central feature of the program is the combination of practical experience and academic rigor, which is achieved with a two-part faculty: a “coaching faculty” of seasoned professional economic development practitioners and a “teaching faculty” of seasoned professional educators. Topics include leadership styles, collaboration, team building, conflict management, client relationships, administration, and case studies. The program is completed in three sessions over a six-month period. The Institute is offered annually with sessions in Athens and Savannah. Participants include executives of downtown and industrial development authorities from Georgia and surrounding states.

We encourage all board members as well as their elected officials to take advantage of these professional development and networking opportunities. Besides the legal requirement, attendance is important to their development as economic development leaders and important to the board’s overall strength and effectiveness. We look forward to working with your board members to strengthen your community’s economy.