The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS) recently graduated the 15^th class through its Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCED) Program. This cohort brings the total number of Tennessee certified economic developers to 86.

Graduation was held at the new IPS Training Center in Nashville. During the session, the graduates presented their Capstone projects, the final requirement for certification. TCED candidates completed a week-long Basic Economic Development Course in addition to a series of six core courses pertinent to economic and community development. The TCED Program gives participants a broad-based knowledge of economic trends, tools and core components required to compete in today’s global economy.

The Spring TCED graduates are:

• Kathrine Bailey, director of strategic planning/research analyst with Austin Peay State University. Her Capstone project topic was Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Rural Tennessee Agriculture: A Workforce Study.
• Landy Fuqua, director of the UT Martin Regional Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (REED) Center and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center. Her Capstone project topic was Creating a Coworking Space in Rural Northwest Tennessee.
• Jeff Taylor, president/CEO of Greene County Partnership. His Capstone project topic was Economic Impact of Generational Revitalization Projects in Small Towns.

 
“All of our Tennessee certified economic developers made a serious commitment to achieve this designation,” said Kim Denton, director of the TCED Program.  “They now will be able to use this in-depth knowledge to benefit their communities and regions.” New graduates will be invited to join the TCED Alumni Group, which provides continuing education and networking opportunities several times throughout the year.