Economic and Community Development Institute

Strategies for Retail Development is a two-day course offered by the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI), a partnership of Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

On March 12-13, 2008 ECDI will assemble leading retail, economic and community development experts at The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville to present ideas and success strategies for retail development.

In addition, community and economic developers from across Alabama will share best practices based upon proven success in community-based retail development.

Course participants will be encouraged to ask questions and engage in constructive dialogue about the challenges, possibilities and potential of retail development as an essential economic development strategy.

ECDI will provide each participant with a course CD containing faculty presentations and reference materials. Participants can view presentations on a personal laptop or on the screen in front of the classroom.


8:30 a.m.	Registration
9:00 a.m.	First Session
12:00 noon	Luncheon
5:00 p.m.	Adjourn
5:30 p.m.	Reception

9:00 a.m.	First Session
11:30 a.m.	Adjourn

Retail as an Essential Economic Development Strategy
Community-Based Retail Development
Current Trends in Retail Development
Success Strategies from across Alabama
Placemaking as a Retail Development Strategy
Workforce Development for the Retail Sector
Developing Successful Retail in Secondary and Rural Markets

Economic Developers
Chamber of Commerce Officials
State and Local Elected Officials
Community Leaders
Utility Company Representatives
Community and Regional Planners

We have provided a variety of registration options for your convenience. Please
choose any of the following methods to register for this ECDI course:

Complete and mail the registration form and payment for the course fee to the address listed on the brochure. CLICK HERE for brochure and registration form.
Fax the completed registration form and your credit card information to Amelia Stehouwer at (334) 844-4709, as indicated on the attached form.
CLICK HERE and register online using a check or credit card.

The course registration fee is $225. This
includes:

The Course and Course CD
Lunch on Wednesday
Reception Wednesday Evening
Refreshments during the Course
Retail Industry Report for Each Participant’s Community / Region
1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU)

REFUND POLICY: The registration fee can
be refunded until Monday, March 3rd. Refunds will not be issued after this date.

With over 20 years of experience in economic and community development education and almost 1,000 alumni across Alabama, ECDI is the state’s leading provider of economic and community development education.

Building upon the success of its annual two-week Intensive Economic Development Training Course, ECDI recently introduced the Alabama Prosperity Forum, a new series of short courses focusing on areas in which Alabama economic and community development professionals have expressed a desire for more training.

The course will be held at The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill, located at 2500 Legends Circle in Prattville.

Hotel room reservations are the responsibility of the individual participant and are not included in the course registration fee.

ECDI has reserved a block of rooms at The Marriott Legends for Tuesday, March 11th and Wednesday, March 12th. A group room rate of $119.00 per night is available for course participants until February 26th.

Participants must indicate they are attending the ECDI retail development course when making reservations in order to receive the special rate.

Hotel reservations can be made by calling The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill at (800) 593-6429. CLICK HERE for a map to the hotel.

For more information about the course, please contact Amelia Stehouwer at: hallame@auburn.edu. or (334) 844-4704.