Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA)

2026 Economic Development Day
2026-02-18 | Maryland General Assembly Presidents Conference Center, 90 State Circle, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
When: February 18, 2026
Where: Maryland General Assembly
Please join us on February 18, 2026, for Economic Development Day! Held during the legislative session in Annapolis, Economic Development Day is your opportunity to hear from key officials on the issues that impact your job creation efforts. Join us to connect with legislators, observe hearings from the State House, and learn more about economic development-related legislation that will be considered by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2026 session!
This event is for MEDA Members and their guests only.
More information will be coming soon.

2026 MEDA Annual Conference
2026-04-26 - 2026-04-28 | Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, Cambridge, MD, 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD, 21613, United States
When: April 26-28, 2026
Where: Hyatt Regency, Chesapeake Bay, Cambridge, Maryland
Theme: The A-MAZING World of Economic Development: Navigating Complexity. Embracing Innovation. Driving Impact.
Stay tuned for more information!

2026 MEDA Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course
2026-07-27 09:00 - 2026-07-31 16:00 (America/New_York)
REGISTRATION WILL GO LIVE IN EARLY 2026
When: July 27 – 31, 2026
Where: Virtual
Whether you’re new to the world of economic development or you’d like to get in-depth with a refresher, the Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course is your ticket to the fundamental concepts, strategies, and tools needed to be successful in today’s complex economic environment. This essential course is designed to prepare participants for the challenges they face in the practice of developing communities and assist them in gaining capacity-building skills, resources, and networks to accelerate economic development.
In previous years, our week-long Basic Course was held in Baltimore, which required travel expenses, time away from home, and extra planning and organization. With our all-virtual course this year, you can learn it all from the comfort of your own home, making it an accessible, efficient, and more affordable way to learn the fundamentals of economic development. We have excellent instructors lined up to teach, and you’ll get to meet and network with other participants… all virtually!
This course will be offered online (via Zoom). Please note that the time zone is Eastern Time (ET).
What You’ll Learn:

Grow your skills and understanding of economic development foundational elements
Best practices in economic and community development
Managing an economic development program
Financing economic development projects and using incentives
Explore new methods and programs to promote job growth and investment
Business retention and expansion
Marketing and business attraction
Discuss emerging trends and factors that shape local and regional economies
Ethics in economic development
Gain detailed knowledge of successful initiatives
Strategic planning
Small business and entrepreneurship
Tools for planning your economy and how to use them.
Researching your prospects and building a community data profile.
Real estate development and reuse
Neighborhood revitalization
Managing real estate inventory.
Develop a valuable network of fellow economic development professionals and resources
Learn from outstanding experts and practitioners in the field

Who Should Take the Course?
The Basic Economic Development Course is designed for community leaders and stakeholders who participate in the process of community and economic development at local, regional, state and federal levels. Typical attendees include:

Economic development practitioners
Business leaders
Community volunteers
Public utility personnel
Government agency staff
Real estate professionals
Chambers of commerce members
Business development professionals
Cooperative extension personnel
Planning and development agencies
Bankers and financial institution professionals
Community development organization professionals
Municipal, town and county government elected and appointed officials
Others interested in facilitating job creation and capital investment in their community, region or state

Your First Step Toward Certification
For those seeking national certification, the Economic Development Basic Course is the first requirement in the process of becoming a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). This Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course qualifies as a professional development training requirement needed to sit for the CEcD exam. CEcD certification through the IEDC is a national recognition that denotes a mastery of principal skills in economic development, professional attainment, and a commitment to personal and professional growth.
Lofton Scholarships for MEDA Members
Members of MEDA can apply for a Lofton Scholarship to cover the tuition for the Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course in full. MEDA’s Lofton Scholarship exists to support the growth of professional skills and knowledge by economic development practitioners in Maryland.
Apply for the Lofton Scholarship before you register for the Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course. Upon acceptance, you will be given a discount code to use with your registration. Apply here!
Details
The 2026 MEDA Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course will be held virtually from July 27 to July 31 from approximately 9am to 4pm Eastern Time.
Tuition is:

$640 for MEDA members (Lofton Scholarship available for full tuition to members)
$840 for non-members (tuition includes MEDA membership for a year)

Accreditation
The course is accredited by the International Economic Development Council. This course qualifies as a professional development training requirement needed to sit for the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) examination.
For more details, please visit the IEDC website at www.iedconline.org​ or phone 201.223.7800

2027 MEDA Annual Conference
2027-06-13 - 2027-06-15 | Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, Cambridge, MD, 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD, 21613, United States
When: June 13-15, 2027
Where: Hyatt Regency, Chesapeake Bay, Cambridge, Maryland
Stay tuned for more information!
