About Academy
Helping communities
- learn to attract retail,
- teaching how data provides options,
- and real estate drives decisions.

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How we do it:
Retail Academy is a program developed from a leading national retail advisory firm, Retail Strategies. The program assists communities in strengthening their retail landscape. Communities will be trained and equipped with the tools and education necessary to attract new retailers to their markets, while providing support to their existing local businesses.
Tennessee Development Districts won a National Innovation Award at the “49th Annual National Association of Development Organizations Conference” in San Antonio for launching Retail Academy.

Our Clients
What people say
Our team thoroughly enjoyed Retail Academy and learning from their real estate experts on how to ‘speak retail’. We were given a list of a prospective retail and restaurant companies that would be a good fit for Warner Robins and that has given us the guidance we need to make outreach and get conversations started. For any community leaders that are taking on retail economic development themselves, I’d recommend going through the Retail Academy program.
Kate HoganCommunity and Economic Development Director, Warner Robins, Georgia
Retail Academy has given me the foundation to feel confident when reaching out to potential retailers and bringing them to our community."
Justin LonginoTown Manager, Boiling Springs, North Carolin
My Retail Academy books stays on my desk. The research and market analysis were eye-opening. Of the eight prospects on our list, we have landed two of them so far. We had all the information ready when we connected with the retailer – that’s what made this so invaluable.”
Bob LargentPresident & CEO, Harrison, Arkansas Regional Chamber of Commerce
“Retail Academy is an outstanding and comprehensive program that I would highly recommend. Retail Strategies provided us with a Retail Recruitment Plan identifying retailers that match our market. Their team also spent time giving us the tools and skills needed to execute the plan and support existing businesses in our area. We left the workshop with a better understanding of our market and greater relationships with the dedicated partners and leaders from the county.
Mallory DarbyVP Economic Development, Mississippi County, Arkansas 
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Retail Academy is a division of “the r cos“