As the city accounting director in Coquille, Oregon, Rick Hohnbaum has experience growing and sustaining rural economies. To further his professional knowledge and gain insights from other local economies, Rick Hohnbaum is an active member of the Oregon Economic Development Association (OEDA).
OEDA is invested in broadening local economies and providing resources to shape economic policies throughout Oregon. The association specifically aims to create new businesses and facilitate training programs across the state. One such program is the Oregon Certified Economic Developer (OCED) Program.
Completion of this program requires 64 credits and eight different courses taught by experts in various fields of economic development. The training includes courses on business retention and expansion, branding and marketing, and entrepreneurship/innovation. Trainees are shown specific data and case studies with real-world applications for both urban and rural communities. To specifically promote economic growth in rural communities, OEDA has partnered with Business Oregon and the Ford Family Foundation to provide professional development scholarships for OCED certification.
