TO REPRESENT THE NEEDS, CONCERNS AND COLLECTIVE GOALS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA BY (A) ENCOURAGING, PROMOTING AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND CONFERENCES; (B) PROMOTING A NETWORK FOR THE EXCHANGE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA; (C) IDENTIFYING CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AND DEVELOPING AND COMMUNICATING POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES; (D) PROMOTING POLICIES AND INITIATIVES THAT WILL RETAIN AND EXPAND EXISTING BUSINESS, ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS AND ENCOURAGE BUSINESS FORMATION; (E) EDUCATING MEMBERS ON CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOPICS; (F) INFORMING LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEGISLATORS ON AREAS OF STATEWIDE CONCERN TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS; (G) COMMUNICATION WITH THE STATE ADMINISTRATION ON EXISTING PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS INNOVATIVE PROPOSALS IN