The City of Fayetteville’s Economic and Community Development Department (ECD) and Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) will host an open house event, Transforming Communities Through Economic Development, on May 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. for Economic Development Week at Festival Park Plaza, 225 Ray Ave. Suite 198, the Economic and Community Development Offices. 

This event will showcase the complimentary relationship between ECD and FCEDC and how they work together to build a vibrant and thriving economy for Fayetteville and the surrounding area. This open house aims to recognize the innovative practices and resiliency strategies within the Economic Development profession and highlights the efforts of both agencies to bring transformational projects into the region. 

“Economic Development Week is a great time to celebrate our collective achievements and plan for a future of inclusive and sustainable growth,” said Chris Cauley, Economic and Community Development Director for the City of Fayetteville, in a press release. “We invite business leaders, community partners and the public to join us as we not only celebrate the accomplishments of ECD and FCEDC, but also as we engage in conversations about the future of economic development within the city during our joint event Transforming Communities Through Economic Development.”

Attendees will learn about resources available to businesses and how other business owners have successfully utilized these programs to positively impact their businesses and communities.

“The goals of the FCEDC and the ECD are aligned: to build a more robust economy, create a better quality of life, and generate more opportunities for the citizens to thrive in our community,” said Robert Van Geons, President & CEO of the FCEDC, in a press release. 

The International Economic Development Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization serving economic developers, created Economic Development Week in 2016 to recognize the work that economic development organizations and professionals do in their communities. Economic Development Week is May 6-10.