Building a Better Business District

Available Courses


March 18: Attracting Business to Commercial Districts 
March 19-20: Commercial Real Estate Analysis 

A robust business district is essential for maintaining a vibrant local economy. Whether your goal is attracting more businesses to an existing retail destination or revitalizing a corridor in need of a fresh identity, this series of workshops has something for everyone. This comprehensive training will help the seasoned economic development professional as well as those new to the field understand the many important considerations for creating a better business district.

Topics covered on day one, Attracting Business to Commercial Districts, include a primer on real estate leasing, expectation of property owners, trends impacting business attraction and understanding your market. It will be useful for anyone currently engaged with a business district as well as the person who wants an introduction to this economic development approach.

Topics covered on days two and three in Commercial Real Estate for Non-Profit and Public Sector Economic Development Professionals include commercial real estate valuation, resources beyond conventional financing, diversification of business mix, market analysis and measuring demand. This course is best suited to those actively engaged in a business corridor.

The Brower Center is located in downtown Berkeley and accessible by BART. Attendees from outside the immediate area have many hotel options. Please contact Lena Robinson or the event organizer on the registration page for assistance with identifying a hotel.

$30 per day includes materials and lunch.