Texas Border Business
Mission, Texas – Laredoan, Viviana Frank, Architect and Partner of Able City LLC recently earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a national certification that denotes a mastery of skills in economic development.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) administered the CEcD Exam on June of this year. With 10 years of economic development experience, Viviana has led advocates for a better quality of life and place in the establishment of prescriptive economic development solutions to catalyze the seed changes they seek in their community. She is the first Laredoan to receive such designation.
By the numbers, these solutions represent many millions of dollars in new investment and reinvestment, but more importantly, these solutions represent many citizens who have come to understand the value of the strategic use of economic development tools to make a livable city. Together with architecture, planning, and public engagement, economic development is one of the four pillars of Able City, a shared value company she co-founded to bridge social, economic, and political systems for a better built environment able to serve people meaningfully.
The CEcD designation recognizes qualified and dedicated practitioners in the economic development field and sets the standard of excellence within the profession. Candidates must pass a rigorous and comprehensive examination, which has three parts and spans two days. The exam tests a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency, and judgment in the following key areas of economic development:
- business retention and expansion
- finance & credit analysis
- marketing and attraction
- strategic planning
- entrepreneurial & small business development
- managing economic development organizations
- neighborhood development strategies
- real estate development & reuse
- technology-led economic development
- workforce development strategies
- foreign direct investment & exporting
As highly competent economic development professionals, Certified Economic Developers work with public officials, business leaders and community members to create leadership to build upon and maximize the benefits of economic development. Excellence in the economic development profession improves the wellbeing, quality of life and opportunities for individuals, businesses, and communities. There are currently over 1,100 active CEcDs in the United States.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of settings including local, state, provincial and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. IEDC’s members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. www.iedcONLINE.org.
Able City is based in the heart of downtown in both Laredo and San Antonio, Texas, and also has an office serving the Rio Grande Valley, located in Mission, Texas. Their goal is to improve quality of life and place through architecture, urban planning, and civic engagement that inspires, and empowers citizens into becoming city makers. To learn more visit them online at www.able.city.
