TN Certified Economic Developer (TCED) Capstone

Participants apply the knowledge gained through the TCED course work to address a substantial challenge or opportunity related to economic and community development impacting their community or organization. The Capstone Project gives participants the opportunity to contribute to the knowledge-base of the profession while also contributing to their community or organization.

Capstone Projects consist of two major components:

1. Report (10- 15 pages double spaced)
2. Presentation  (5 minutes)

Eligibility – Candidate may begin process after successful completion of TBEDC and four of the six TCED core courses.

Time to Completion – Most Capstone Projects are completed in two to six months.

Project Eligibility – Participants may select a new project or a project conducted within the final year of TCED course work. The topic a participant selects should be a project they are passionate about implementing in their organization or community.

TCED Capstone Process At-a-Glance

Forms and Guidelines

Click here for Capstone Project Guidelines

Click here for TCED Application for Capstone Project 
Click here for Exemplary Outlines

Questions or more information about the Capstone Projects:
Contact Kathy Barber, Capstone Coordinator at (865) 974-5719) or kathy.barber@tennessee.edu​ 

As of February 2017, the TCED Advisory Board voted to enforce a two-year maximum for TCED candidates to complete the Capstone Project after finishing core course work. In other words, the last TCED core course is completed, TCED candidates will have two years to finish the Capstone project process.

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Spring 2023): 

• Public Art as an Economic Driver in Rural Tennessee - Shannon Cantrell, TCEcD
• The Benefits of a Unified Approach for a County in Economic & Community Development Efforts - Lauren M. Fletcher, TCEcD
• Economic Development of Rural Communities through Tourism and Downtown Revitalization - Michael Y. Foster, TCEcD
• Developing the Town of Farragut's Economic Development Strategic Plan - Trevor Hobbs, TCEcD
• Employability Counts: Implementing Workforce Development in Grades 3-12 - Tara Wilson, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Fall 2022):

• Medical Expansion Zone - Asset Based Community Development - Helene Singer Cash, TCEcD
• Growing a Workforce Development Program Amid a Contracting Labor Force, a Pandemic, and Shifting Approaches to Work - Adina Chumley, TCEcD
• Education & Rehabilitation in ALICE Communities for Workforce Development - Aaron Frazier, TCEcD
• Serving Customers: Professional Development for Economic Developers - Carol A. Jones, TCEcD
• The Transformation of a Site to Capitalize on Missed Opportunities - Justin Snow, TCEcD
• The Value of Technical College Graduates in Tennessee - Scottie McCormick Tudor, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Spring 2022):

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Rural Tennessee Agriculture: A Workforce Study - Katherine Bailey, TCEcD
• Creating a Co-working Space in Rural Northwest Tennessee - Landy Fuqua, TCEcD
• Economic Impact of Generational Revitalization Projects in Small Towns - Jeff Taylor, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Fall 2021):

• Certified Retirement Communities as Economic Development: Discover Shelby - Find Retirement - Shelli Davis. TCEcD
• How Strong Career and Technical Education Programs Help Build Rural Workforce - Anne Hosea, TCEcD
• Determining the Best Quality of Place Assets for a Small Community - Kimber Sharp Ellard, TCEcD
• Research and Development for a Marketing Plan of PowerCom Industrial Center’s North Campus in Hartsville, TN - Dan Tidcomb, TCEcD
• The Powell River.  How an Underutilized Natural Asset Helped Spur Community Development and Tourism - Anna Beth Walker, TCEcD
• Utilizing Revolving Loan Funds to Provide Working Capital and Create Job Growth - Sue Wilson, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Spring 2021):

• Problems Can Lead to Prosperity with a Strategic Plan:  A Collaborative, Targeted Approach to Business Recruitment in Gallatin - Rosemary Bates, TCEcD
• Leveling Up: Coffee County’s Economic Development Opportunity - Kalee Harryman, TCEcD
• Repurposing the Madisonville City Industrial Park - Richard Kirkland, TCEcD
• The Importance of Partnerships: Creating an Economic Impact with Fishing Tournaments - Jennifer Perryman, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Spring & Fall 2020):

• The Marketing, Development, and Revitalization of La Vergne, TN in an Evolving Growing, and Competitive Market - Thomas Broeker, TCEcD
• The Economic Impact of Low Earth Orbit Satellite Broadband Technology on Mountain Communities  - Brandon Chadwick, TCEcD
• A Review of the Housing and Rental Market in McMinn County and Its Impact on Economic Development - Dana Ferguson, TCEcD
• Opportunity Zones: Establishing Accountability Through Tools and Partnerships to Meet Community Needs - Dawn Michelle Foster, TCEcD
• Taking Initiatives to Brand and Develop the City of Fayetteville - Kristi Gentry, TCEcD
• Overcoming Identity Crisis through Placemaking: Perks and Pitfalls of Being Nashville’s Neighbor - Mary Laine Hucks, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Fall 2019):

• Economic Development Strategies for Rural Downtowns: Building upon Tennessee’s Current Success and Resources - Dr. Bridget Jones, TCEcD
• “Destination Hatchie“-A System of Parks on The Historic Hatchie River - Julian McTizic, TCEcD
• Asset Based Planning: Leveraging Assets for Economic Growth - Kathy Barber, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Spring 2019):

• The Warren County and Clay County Comprehensive Planning Process - Tommy Lee, TCEcD
• Should Tennessee Create & Implement a Workforce Training Program Similar to Georgia Quick Start?- Stephanie Watkins, TCEcD
• The Role of General Contractors in Economic Development - Shari Brown, AICP, TCEcD
• Nashville Consortium of HBCUs Creating Economic & Community Development Growth - Mary Carpenter , TCEcD
• "Giving Away the Farm?" Using A Cost/Benefit Approach to Evaluate Local Economic Development Incentives - Jonathon Connell, TCEcD
• Economic Impact of A Proposed State of Tennessee Historic Tax Credit - Laura Todd, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Fall 2018):

• The Port of Cates Landing: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - R. Chad Davis, CFP, TCEcD
• The Impact of Connectivity in Small, Rural Communities - Emily Hunt Johnson, TCEcD
• Economic Impact of Trained Front Line Supervision in the Recruitment and Retention of Employees - Gordon H. Reed, TCEcD
• How Dickson County and the City of Dickson Landed Daltile-Mohawk Industries - Bob Rial, TCEcD
• Dayton Tennessee's Journey to Build a New Industrial Park without a Prospect in Hand - Dennis Ray Tumlin, TCEcD
• Redevelopment VS New Construction for the Expansion of City Services - Kayce Williams, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Spring 2018):

• The Importance of a Joint Economic Community Development Board (JECDB) in Stimulating Growth of a Tier IV Community (Campbell County) - James “Andy” Wallace, TCEcD
• Using Parks and Natural Resources for Rural Economic Impact - Stephania Motes, TCEcD
• Recognizing The Priorities Disconnect Between Economic Development Organizations And Elected Officials, Iliff McMahan, Jr., TCEcD
• Developing a Work Ready Workforce: Closing the Gap, Creating the Path - Mandy Christenson, TCEcD
• The New Gateway to Tennessee - Sherri Ferguson, TCEcD
• REFOCUSING THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH INTO LOCAL WORKFORCE INITIATIVES - Steve Hilton, TCEcD
• Potential Site Due Diligence on a (Small) Budget - R. Darrell James, P.E, TCEcD
• Changing the Perception of Manufacturing to Attract the Next Generation of Workers - Teresa Aikens Jones, TCEcD
• Grit, Grace, Place:  Enhancing Place with Gallatin’s True Grit and Amazing Grace – Kimberly Baker, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Fall 2017):

• Tennessee’s Downstream Chemicals Cluster - Sally Avery, TCEcD
• Improving Hawkins County’s Workforce by Becoming a Certified ACT Work Ready Community - Rebecca Baker, TCEcD
• Establishing a Marketable Identity for the City of Lebanon - Sarah Haston, TCEcD
• Red Boilings Springs - Honoring our History Understanding our Present and Looking to our Future - Crystal Justice, TCEcD
• Prepared for Opportunity - Patricia Oldham, TCEcD
• Business Education as an Economic Development Driver - Mason Worthington , TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Spring 2017):

• Should Select Tennessee Expand to Include Investment in Buildings - Leanne Cox, TCEcD
• The Way Back Up - Stacey Kidd, TCEcD
• Travel Tourism and Economic Development in Tellico Plains, TN – Gregory Newman, TCEcD
• Can a Foreign Alliance Center for Tennessee be Self Sustaining in Knoxville – Kathryne Ogrod, TCEcD
• Strategic Planning In Benton County, TN – Amanda Paschall, TCEcD
• The Economic Impact of Festivals on Small Towns – Gwen Shelton, TCEcD
• Issues and Challenges of Local Government Supporting a Development Project of Regional Importance - Barrett M. Stevens, TCEcD
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Tennessee Downtowns Program – Nancy Williams , TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Fall 2016):

• Tourism Makes a Splash in Rural East Tennessee by Jody Bauer, TCEcD
• The Making and Marketing of the Hatchie River Park and Nature CenterMuseum by Shelia Dellinger , TCEcD
• Creating Community Resilience to Foster Business Resilience in the Tennessee Automotive Supply Chain Cluster by Misty DePriest, TCEcD
• Developing a Workforce to Meet the Region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy by Mark Farley
• The Virtual Building by Bryan Hall, TCEcD
• What Is the Chattanooga Innovation District and What Role Does It Play in Economic Development by Miriam Hamilton, TCEcD
• Securing a Site for a Publicly Owned Industrial Park by Allen Pitner, TCEcD
• Working Together for a Stronger Local Economy by Jody Sliger, TCEcD
• The Success of Public-Private Partnerships in Pigeon Forge by David Taylor , TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Spring 2016):

• The Making and Marketing of a Competitive Tullahoma Airport Business Airpark by Winston Brooks, TCEcD
• How Do Economic Development Organizations Measure Their Own Performance by Susan Robinson, TCEcD
• The Electric Cooperative’s Role in Economic Development by Teresa Sampson, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Fall 2015):

• Analysis of the Comprehensive Economic Development Planning Process as a Strategic Planning Document by Megan Raye Farris, TCEcD
• A Case-Study of the Tri-County Industrial Park located in Sullivan County, TN by William Kelly Forrester III, TCEcD
• Improving Industrial Park Readiness in Hamilton County through a Certified Sites Program by Lindsay Hiatt, TCEcD
• Creating Economic Opportunity in Areas Limited by Zoning by Marie Lisco, TCEcD
• Robert Creek Landing Golf Course- Rehabilitation and Reinvestment in Ridgeton, Tennessee by Michael P. McClanahan, TCEcD
• Improving Industrial Readiness Through the Select Tennessee Certified Sites Program in Rural Tennessee by Michelle B. Price, TCEcD
• Brave New City- Leveraging USDA Grant Funds to Contract with Retail Consultants to Develop a Retail Strategic Plan by C. Seth Sumner, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Spring 2015):

• Roadway Infrastructure Improvements and Their Importance by Kenny Martin, TCEcD

TCED Alumni Capstone Projects (Fall 2014):

• Revitalizing Rural Tennessee's ECD Efforts by Amy New, TCEcD
• Role of Universities in ECD-UTM and City of Martin by Brad Thompson, TCEcD 
• Creating an Economic Opportunity for an Economically Depressed City with a Vacant Industrial Park by Darrell Williams, TCEcD
• Lewisburg Takes the Silver by Greg Lowe, TCEcD
• The Renaissance of Downtown White Bluff by Jeff Martin, TCEcD
• Brushy Mountain Distillery by Lisa Rutherford, TCEcD
• Aviation Park I by Mark Canty, TCEcD
• The Digital Hub, Job Development in Wayne County by Rena Purdy, TCEcD
• The Revolving Loan Program by Wallace Austin, TCEcD