The BIA Local Leadership Fund provides emerging leaders in Toronto’s BIA movement with full tuition to the Local Economic Development (LED) Certificate Program through the Chang School of Continuing Education at Toronto Metropolitan University as well as support through mentoring and networking opportunities.
The Chang School’s Certificate in Local Economic Development (LED) will successfully prepare graduates in the workforce with the knowledge and competence to address the current and emerging area of LED.
The online program consists of four core courses:
As a condition of the BIA Local Leadership Fund, the CVUP 160 capstone paper must relate to BIA work in the city of Toronto.
To be eligible for support through the BIA Local Leadership Fund, applicants must work for or provide volunteer support to a Toronto BIA and/or be involved and support the wider BIA movement.
Successful applicants to the 2023–2024 Cohort of the BIA Local Leadership Fund will be enrolled into the Certificate Program in Local Economic Development for the fall 2023 semester and are expected to complete the program by fall 2024.
Applications for the 2023–2024 Cohort of the BIA Local Leadership Fund will be available starting May 1, 2023. To obtain an application, please contact Marianne Szczuryk. Deadline for applications is Friday, June 16, 2023, at 4:30 p.m.