ED Futures Newsletter

Dear ED Futures Reader:

What does it mean to you to be an economic development professional?

This is an important question for all of us to ask ourselves. As many of you know, I have been giving a great deal of thought to this question. Click here to download an earlier white paper I wrote on the subject.

I'd like to engage folks about this question. Interested?

Here is a summary of some of the ideas I have received from others:

Comments thus far reflect eight overall views of economic development’s status as a profession. The number in parentheses indicates the number of people who reflected that particular view in their comments.

1. It is an emerging profession now with an undefined path to advancing its professionalism. (16)

2. It is an emerging profession now, and will continue to advance if we remain on our current professional development path. (8)

3. It is not a profession now, and it will not become one unless we make radical changes to move it in a professional direction. (7)

4. Right now, we don’t really know if economic development is or is not a profession. (6)

5. It is a new profession that will need to continue working on advancing itself. (3)

6. It is not a profession now, and it will never become one. (3)

7. It is a fully mature profession now, and it is making good progress in advancing itself. (1)

8. Our goal should not be to become a profession. Instead we should develop as a business. (1)

A number of new articles have been posted to the ED Futures website. Please see below.

Best wishes,

Don Iannone
Publisher
ED Futures Journal
Email: dtia@don-iannone.com
Tel: 440.449.0753