March 20, 2025 – The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) is excited to announce a new partnership with ResearchFDI, a global leader in foreign direct investment and economic development research. This collaboration will support BCEDA initiatives, the BC Economic Summit, and a partnership to offer professional training programs eligible for CEDP.BC Certification credits, furthering the growth and expertise of economic development professionals across British Columbia.
The partnership, will create expanded training opportunities, including specialized webinars and seminars. These sessions, delivered by ResearchFDI, will cover essential topics such as investment attraction and lead generation, helping local communities attract new business and investment opportunities. Each session will be eligible for CEDP.BC Certification points, allowing economic development professionals to earn credits toward their certification while enhancing their skills.
Dale Wheeldon, President & CEO of BCEDA, said: “This partnership aligns with our mission to provide world-class training to BC’s economic development community. By working with ResearchFDI, we can offer high-quality, targeted training that will benefit both practitioners and their communities. We also look forward other opportunities to partner with ResearchFDI to further support communities and economic development in BC.”
Through this partnership, BCEDA will offer its members access to the ResearchFDI Academy, a flexible, self-paced training program designed to accelerate mastery in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The program covers essential areas such as global investment strategies, stakeholder engagement, lead generation, and investor aftercare. It also provides the opportunity to earn the prestigious FDIP (Foreign Direct Investment Professional) certification, positioning participants as leaders in the competitive field of economic development.
Amber Hunter, EVP North America of ResearchFDI, added, “We are thrilled to partner with BCEDA and to offer be able to offer, ResearchFDI Academy, a cutting-edge training platform to economic development professionals. The academy is designed to help professionals gain valuable insights, refine their skills, and earn their FDIP certification, which will ultimately strengthen the economic development community in British Columbia.”
Key Features of ResearchFDI Academy Include:
- Comprehensive Training: Expert-led modules covering a wide range of critical topics for economic developers.
- Flexible Learning: Self-paced access to training materials with assessments to ensure retention and understanding.
- FDIP Certification: Achieve certification by completing coursework, passing assessments, and delivering a live final presentation.
- Customizable Solutions: Organizations can tailor the platform with their branding and monitor team progress through robust reporting tools.
To celebrate this partnership, BCEDA members can use the code BC2025 to receive a special provincial discount on access to the ResearchFDI Academy, by submitting a form here.
For more information about the ResearchFDI Academy or CEDP.BC Certification eligibility, please visit BCEDA’s website or email info@bceda.ca
Contact Information
ResearchFDI
Amber Hunter, EVP North America
Phone: 514-559-0530
Email: amber@researchfdi.com
BC Economic Development Association
Dale Wheeldon, President & CEO
Phone: 604-819-3809
Email: info@bceda.ca
Website: www.bceda.ca
About ResearchFDI
ResearchFDI is a global leader in providing innovative solutions for economic development organizations and investment promotion agencies. Specializing in lead generation, investment attraction, and FDI strategy, ResearchFDI helps regions and countries build long-term, sustainable economic growth through targeted investment initiatives.
About BCEDA
The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) is the leading professional association of economic development practitioners in the Province of BC. BCEDA currently has over 450 members from communities throughout the Province. BCEDA provides services that help member communities grow and expand new and existing businesses, attract new business investments, and work towards strategic infrastructure investment, land use planning, and community enhancement.
