Name: Jelka Wickham
Certifications: Working towards Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) Certification
Favorite Grow America courses: ED101 Economic Development Finance (Remote), ED 201 Business Credit Analysis (Remote)
“Attending these classes has opened up the perspective for me of what’s possible, what kind of projects we could envision for our community, what larger economic development projects are possible, and how to structure those deals. I will have a lot of projects or situations in the future that I can apply the content to.”
Real world results: A better understanding of the industry and her place in it
Recently promoted to deputy director of the Ulster County Department of Economic Development, Jelka is only two courses into her Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certification, but it’s already impacted her identity as an industry professional and her approach to economic development in her community.
“My understanding of myself as an economic development professional here in the business community has been shaped by what I’ve been taught in the classes about how we fit into the broader business community setting and the local lending setting,” she says.
Now, when she meets with her program’s lending partners, the knowledge she’s gained from the courses enables her to speak to them eye-to-eye and confidently make a distinction between their commercial lending practices and the county’s public lending practices.
She says, “my expertise is on a different level right now, and it helps me to shape this program and make better recommendations to our leadership that are grounded in industry standards.”
Challenge: Updating Ulster County’s lending practices to meet modern needs
A large part of her new role is relaunching a legacy revolving loan fund, updating it to address the current issues and needs in her community. The practical course material, real world scenarios, and collaborative learning environment mean she’s already applying what she’s learned to the relaunch, building credibility with lending partners, and laying the groundwork for more equitable financing.
“I came out of every class with an abundance of ideas and materials that I could directly apply to the framework of the revolving loan fund that I’m setting up,” she shares. “It also really helped me understand my role as an economic development professional and how to collaborate with local lenders and banks.”
Online learning with real collaboration
Knowing that stepping away from work for in-person training wasn’t an option, Jelka opted for the remote version of Grow America’s EDFP courses. She found that the online format delivered exactly what she needed.
“We go into breakout rooms where people work on the problems and the exercises together,” she says, “That’s how I learn and how I can take the most away from it.”
The makeup of those in the classroom made the experience even richer. She notes, “the classes include recent college grads and people with 20 years of experience in the field. That makes it very diverse and everybody brings their experiences into the discussions.”
She also taps into Grow America’s opportunities in the broader community, regularly joining our revolving loan fund (RLF) community of practice meetings and webinars to stay connected with peers across the industry.
Impact, solutions, results
Jelka walked away from both classes with a fresh set of ideas and materials she could apply directly to the revolving loan fund she’s launching. Among the impacts she values most:
- Rigorous, applicable coursework: “I was specifically looking for something that would teach me business credit analysis at an in-depth level. I wanted a very rigorous, academically-oriented course, and Grow America offers it.”
- Flexible online learning: “It just makes sense. I have all the material online, I can participate in all of the exercises. The technical aspect of doing this online is very, very seamless.”
- Highly competent instruction: “I really appreciate when I see something that is very well executed. The instructors are prepared and know how to handle the technology and will take their time if someone has an issue with the material.”
- A view towards the future: “I hope that with the training I receive, we can design more programs with a more equitable lending approach. We’re looking to work with disadvantaged communities or distressed areas in which small business owners face more barriers to access financing. We want to design our programs in a way that alleviates that, so we’re sort of a stepping stone for these members of the community to ultimately be able to participate in the general lending market.”
Grow America training: Deepening industry knowledge for more impact
With just two courses completed, Jelka has already gained significant industry knowledge and the foundation to reshape how Ulster County approaches economic development. She’s looking forward to the upcoming classes, particularly real estate financing, and knows they will expand her ability to impact her community in meaningful ways.
To learn more about Grow America’s industry-leading training and join a network of professionals making real change in communities across the country, register today.