Denton with KEDC gets EDFP certification
KATHRYN MARTINEZ News Herald Staff

Lisa Denton with Kilgore Economic Development Corporation received certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) from the National Development Council (NDC). Certification is a designation given to individuals who successfully complete an intensive economic development finance training series that is conducted by NDC.

The courses provide individuals working in the field of economic development with training in credit analysis, real estate financing, loan packaging, deal structuring and negotiating and the creation and implementation of development programs.

"This was a rigorous course that has definitely helped increase my knowledge and skills in the area of deal structuring," Denton said. "I am grateful to the board and Amanda (Nobles, KEDC executive director,) for allowing me to participate in this educational opportunity."

Each of the four courses are five days in length and end with a written review that must be passed before a certification candidate is allowed to continue in the EDFP program. When a candidate has completed the entire four-week series, a comprehensive examination is given.

The New York based National Development Council was established in 1972 and is a private non-profit corporation, which specializes in economic/ housing development training and technical assistance for economic/housing development. NDC has provided training to approximately 50,000 development people working in the field of economic and housing development. Participants come from many diverse groups: city and state governments, public agencies, community based organizations, professional organizations, bankers, etc.

Denton is the KEDC economic development specialist. Having served in this position since 2004, she assists in all aspects of economic development for the city, including primary employer retention and expansion, marketing, budgeting, property management, tax abatement and economic development agreement compliance.

Denton is a graduate of the Basic Economic Development Course at Texas A & M. She has earned her Economic Development Finance Professional Certification through the National Development Council. She has also earned her Business Retention and Expansion Consultant Certification and is currently working toward completing the Business Retention & Expansion Professional Certification.

Denton is an active member in several organizations, including: Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC); Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI), Marketing/ Communications; Committee Chair; and State Chair; Northeast Texas Economic Developers Roundtable, Marketing/ Communications; Committee Chair, I-20 Corridor Marketing Association; Northeast Texas Economic Alliance Marketing Association; Leadership Kilgore Graduate, Boys & Girls Club Council Member; and Kilgore College Workforce Development Advisory Committee.