In the Press: International Economic Development Council

EDP Spotlight: Heidi Knoblauch, PhD, EDP

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Heidi Knoblauch, PhD, EDP, interim director of Empire (N.Y.) State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation, is part of the third cohort of certified Entrepreneurship Development Professionals. IEDC’s EDP credential is designed to build capacity for those supporting entrepreneurship in their communities, and demonstrates the skills and expertise to lead communities through entrepreneurship-led economic development (ELED).

Why did you decide to pursue the EDP credential?

I wanted to understand how economic developers outside of New York State are thinking about entrepreneurship-led economic development. Specifically, I wanted to learn how other economic developers are thinking about measuring innovation and entrepreneurship impacts in their respective states.

How will your EDP credential support your community's economic recovery?

Entrepreneurs are drivers of economic growth, and entrepreneurship can level the playing field. The strategies I learned through the EDP credential will help me drive equitable growth in my community.

Tell us about an entrepreneurship-led project or initiative you are working on.

We are supporting accelerator programs focused on historically underserved populations by connecting those programs to fund managers who want to make equity investments in high-growth startups founded by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.