Community Systems Digital Economic Development Summit 3.0

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Smarter Software for Communities

September 25, 2016

DIGITAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 3.0:

Creating a Digital Road Map for Your EDO

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Your Hosts

Ben WrightCEOCommunity Systems

[email protected]

www.twitter.com/communitysys

Michael CollinsDirector of Business DevelopmentCommunity Systems

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.twitter.com/communitysys

http://www.twitter.com/communitysys


3Community Systems spun off Atlas Advertising and became the largest provider of technology products to the economic development industry, in terms of staff.

Why? We saw that we could make an even greater impact on more communities, at a lower cost, through software.

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Community Systems provides the online tools that power intelligent location decisions and helps create relationships between geographic communities and the people considering expanding to, relocating to, or visiting a particular location.

What Makes Us Unique? • We specialize in communities

– Community Systems partners with 200+ communities in 40+ states to provide industry leading websites, GIS systems, and more

• We are a one stop shop for technology– Community Systems provides the largest collection of software, data, and services dedicated to

serving the needs of communities• We provide incredible value

– Because of our experience and breadth of products, Community Systems offers more features for the price than other companies - tailored for communities.

• We can help you develop your skills– Community systems provides unlimited support to our customers, as well training and certification

in digital economic development.– Digital Economic Development University - The industry’s first comprehensive training program

created specifically for economic developers - free to all customers

About Community Systems

http://communitysys.com/Training/Digital-EDU.aspx

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• Celebrating 20 years in Economic Development Technology• What the World Was Like Then… and Where it Might Be in 20 More Years• What are the Greatest Challenges the Industry Faces in Adopting New

Technology?• What are the Most Important Technologies to EDOs?• Are ED Professionals Satisfied with Technology?• What Technologies are Falling by the Wayside?• How Much are EDOs Spending on Technology?• How Can you Get More Current on Technology • How Can Your EDO Become a Leader in Digital Economic Development?

• Recognizing Certified Digital Economic Development Professionals in 2016•

What This Session is About:

Our hope is that today you will be inspired, informed, educated, and empowered to use technology to bring more opportunity to your communities.

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Celebrating 20 years in Economic Development Technology

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In 1996 Economic Development Technology

Looked Like This

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Computers (1983)

Email(1991)

Website Content Mgmt (1995)

Email Surveys (1997)

Google (1998)

CRM Systems (1999)

GIS systems (2000)

Social Media

for Business (2003)

Online Meetings

(2004)

Smart Phones/ Mobile Devices (2007)

Digital Proposals

(2009)

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What Technology May Look Like in 20 Years

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The Technologies of Today: What Can We Learn from Economic Development Practitioners?

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• We conducted the industry’s largest survey on the subject of technology to discover economic developers’ attitudes towards technology

• Our respondents included EDprofessionals from 190+ organizations, 41 states, and7 countries

And this is what we found out…

The Largest Technology Survey in the Industry…

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What are the Greatest Challenges the Industry Faces in

Adopting New Technologies?

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Are EDOs Adopting New Technologies?

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The Biggest Challenges in the Economic Development

Industry Include…

1. Available budget and funding for new technologies

2. Marketing communications/lead generation strategies

3. Website management (content creation, website visibility, page updates)

4. Staff member training on new technologies and digital tools

5. Data collection and reporting

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What are the Most Important Technologies to EDOs?

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What are the Most Important Technologies to EDOs?

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What Technologies are EDOs Most Satisfied With?

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How are EDOs Using Technology to Support Their Initiatives?

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Who is Adopting What Technologies?

Jessica EricksonPresidentLongmont Economic Development Partnership

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Sam BaileySenior Manager, Global Business DevelopmentColorado’s Government Office of Economic Development and International Trade

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Neil HamiltonDirector of Business IntelligenceOrlando Economic Development Commission

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Irene AlvarezManaging Director of Marketing and CommunicationsColumbus 2020

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What Technologies are Falling by the Wayside?

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What Technologies are EDOs Moving Away From?

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How Much are EDOs Spending on Technology?

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What Percentage of Their Budgets Do EDOs Spend on

Technology?

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How Can You Get More Current with Technology?

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5 Ways to Get Current with Technology

Become a certified digital economic development marketer, researcher, business developer, or executive through Community Systems’ Digital Economic University training program

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Follow technology trends via blog posts, articles, forums, podcasts, and demos/videos (such as Community Systems blogs and demos and HubSpot sales and marketing articles)

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Get outside of the industry and follow what technologies similar industries may be deploying

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Get active on social media and pay attention to what others are discussing – and join in on the discussion!

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Start conversations with experts in a variety of industries to learn and understand what the digital age has to offer

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Three Ways to Become a Leader in Technology

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3 Ways to Become a Leader in Digital Economic Development

1. Take what you learn and teach/share it with staff, board members, partners,

etc.

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2. Be a technology advocate for your organization and community – create your own blogs, articles, and success stories to share on your social media accounts and website

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3. Invest in people and skills – focus on cross-training your staff members on digital tools and have your staff teach you what they have learned too

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About Community Systems’ Digital Economic Development University

Training Program

Why Take This Course?• Everyday, 90% of site selection decisions start online• Economic Development budgets and staff are stretched thin

• EDOs face the prospect of not being able to service companies that are considering their area – or move elsewhere

The Solution?• Develop a high performing economic development website• Use related digital tools

How is this accomplished cost effectively?

May 3, 2023 Community Systems Digital EDU 2016 38

About Community Systems’ Digital Economic Development University

Community Systems Digital Economic Development University is a program specially designed to put the skills economic developers need to compete in today’s digital age in the hands of economic developers at the lowest cost possible. The course consists of:

• 14 90-minute webinars (recorded online for future use)• Senior Staff from Community Systems & Atlas Advertising as

Instructors• Industry leading guest speakers• 4 different certification tracks

Only available to participating communities!May 3, 2023 Community Systems Digital EDU 2016 39

Available Certifications1. Certified Digital EDO: Given to an entire EDO

• Certification signifies that your entire organization has the skills to compete in the digital world, including marketing, business development, research, and more

2. Certified Digital Marketer: Given to an individual• Certification signifies that you have the core skills to market, generate leads,

and increase digital engagement with your community using a wide range of digital tools

3. Certified Digital Business Developer: Given to an individual• Certification signifies that you have the core skills to recruit and retain

companies, convert leads, and advance deals in your community using a wide range of digital tools

4. Certified Digital Researcher: Given to an individual • Certification signifies that you have the core skills to generate relevant

property, demographic, and business data, along with the analytics and leads data to help the organization drive results, engage prospects, and more, using a wide range of digital tools


Requirements for Certification

1.Certified Digital EDO: • To become a Certified Digital Community, have one of your

organization’s members watch all 14 session recordings• Receive an 80% or higher on each course’s corresponding quiz

2.Certified Digital Marketer: • Complete 4 or more of the digital marketing courses • Receive an 80% or higher on each course’s corresponding quiz

3.Certified Digital Business Developer: • Complete 4 or more of the digital business development courses• Receive an 80% or higher on each course’s corresponding quiz

4.Certified Digital Researcher: • Complete 4 or more of the digital researcher courses• Receive an 80% or higher on each course’s corresponding quizMay 3, 2023 Community Systems Digital EDU 2016 41

Program Costs1.Certified Digital EDO

• Attending all courses: $1,000

2.Certified Digital Marketer • Attending four courses: $300

3.Certified Digital Business Developer • Attending four courses: $300

4.Certified Digital Researcher• Attending four courses: $300

5.Community Systems & Atlas Advertising Customers

• Attending any or all courses: Free (with promotional coupon code)May 3, 2023 Community Systems Digital EDU 2016 42

How to Sign Up• Visit training.communitysys.com• Create an account to become a registered learner• Login to your account and visit the eCommerce page to select & purchase

your package or single session(s)


http://training.communitysys.com/


Recognizing Certified Digital Economic Developers

Thom RobinsonExecutive DirectorTullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation

• 30+ years of experience as a community and economic development professional

• Served at Chambers of Commerce and local governments across the Southeastern United States

• Now has the digital skills to market, attract, recruit, and showcase the Tullahoma community to prospects and new business opportunities

Recognizing a Certified Digital Economic Development Executive

Caitlin HancockDirector of Administration & MarketingEast Central Indiana Regional Partnership

• Experience in community involvement initiatives and a variety of social media marketing

• Specializes in publicity, management, planning, and other marketing tactics

• Perfected her digital skills and knowledge to help with marketing strategy and initiatives for ECIRP’s digital presence

Recognizing a Certified Digital Economic Development Marketer

Daryl PhillipsDirector of Economic and Community DevelopmentCheatham Connect

• Professionally trained economic development professional specializing in rural and exurban areas

• Experience and success in workforce development

• Incorporated technology in rural economic development from developing a 13 county regional economic development organization's first web presence in 1997 to incorporating Twitter, blogs, social media and other technology today

Recognizing a Certified Digital Economic Development Business Developer

Janel Ranly Economic Development SpecialistCity of Fairborn

• Maintains an active business retention, recruitment, and expansion program

• Coordinates special projects and activities focused on enhancing the business climate within the city

• Now has the digital skills to help tell the story and showcase a variety of data for the city of Fairborn

Recognizing a Certified Digital Economic Development Researcher

Certified EDOsCalifornia Association for Local Economic Development, City of Strongsville, City of Fitchburg, Clarke County Economic Development, Clarksville-Montgomery County, Fairborn Development Association, Great Plains Development Authority, Henry County Development Authority, Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Association, Loudon County Economic Development, Midland Tomorrow, Nassau County, New Mexico Department of Economic Development, Roanoke Regional Partnership, Siskiyou Economic Development Council, StrategyOne, Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation

Certified Economic DevelopersJocelyn Boyer, Renee Brecht, Winston Brooks, Leah Brown, Jennifer Busby, Carrie Cousins, Becky Dantic, Mia Farstad, Joyce Frey, Pedro Garcia, Caitlin Hancock, Katherine Hayes, Theo Holtwijk, Michelle Levasseur, James Matthews, Jackie Melendez, Kelly Murphy-Redd, Brent Painter, Daryl Phillips, Janel Ranly, Thom Robinson, Helen Schaubmayer, Taitia Shelow, Karen Shexnayder, Sean Smith, Ndem Tazoh Tazifor, Emily Thomas, Brian Tinsman, Andy Young, Michael Zimmerman

Recognizing Newly Certified Digital Economic Developers and EDOs for 2016

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Q&A

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1860 Blake Street, Suite B101Denver, CO 80202Contact: Ben Wrightt: 720.420.3800 x [email protected]

Thank You & Stay in Touch!



http://www.communitysys.com/

Community Systems Digital Economic Development Summit 3.0

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