Economic Development Planning Skills
MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning offers this short seminar, taught during the Independent Activities Period, to introduce economic development planning skills using a case study set in Hartford, Vermont. Students learn analytical tools for assessing local economic conditions, identifying development issues, and evaluating opportunities as part of building an economic development plan. The course is designed as a skills primer for the Master in City Planning program, preparing students for follow-on courses like Economic Development Planning and Revitalizing Urban Main Streets. Materials include the case study, readings, and in-class exercises from MIT OpenCourseWare, free to access with no certificate offered. The seminar runs over four intensive days rather than a full semester, focused on practical technique rather than theory.