Jara James
DURANT, Okla. - Jara James, Choctaw economic developer serving Latimer and Haskell Counties, became one of 1,200 people worldwide to obtain the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) accreditation through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
“Becoming a Certified Economic Developer isn’t just a credential, it’s a career-defining milestone that demonstrates a professional’s dedication to elevating their expertise and their community impact,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle. “Certified Economic Developers possess deep technical knowledge and bring trust and credibility to stakeholders, investors, and peers. We are thrilled to celebrate Jara James on achieving this accomplishment and joining our network of professionals driving economic progress around the world.”
To attain this designation, candidates must successfully complete a rigorous and comprehensive examination consisting of three parts and spanning two days. This examination assesses a practitioner's knowledge, proficiency, judgement, and critical thinking abilities across a wide range of economic development disciplines.
James also recently received her Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certification through Grow America. The training provides individuals working in the field of economic development with instruction in business credit analysis, real estate financing, loan packaging, deal structuring and negotiating and the creation and implementation of development programs.
Each of the four EDFP Certification Program courses are five days in length and concludes with an exam. Upon successful completion of all four courses, the candidate is awarded the EDFP Certification.
James is now one of three Choctaw Nation associates to earn her EDFP certification and one of four to earn her CEcD certification. She worked for the Choctaw Nation from 2006-2014 and returned to the tribe in 2020. As an economic developer, James works closely with municipal leaders, stakeholders and regional partners to support strategic growth, business development, and community revitalization.
About the Choctaw Nation
The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States with more than 230,000 tribal members and over 13,000 associates. This ancient people has an oral tradition dating back over 13,000 years. The first tribe over the Trail of Tears, its historic reservation boundaries are in the southeast corner of Oklahoma, covering 10,923 square miles. The Choctaw Nation’s vision, “Living out the Chahta Spirit of faith, family and culture,” is evident as it continues to focus on providing opportunities for growth and prosperity. For more information about the Choctaw Nation, its culture, heritage and traditions, please go to www.choctawnation.com.
