Workshop Overview
Join us on June 9-12, 2025 for the CDI Southeast Community Development Institute! The mission of the Community Development Institute (CDI) is to empower people with the knowledge and skills necessary to proactively improve the physical and human resources of their communities, thereby increasing the quality of life for all citizens.
CDI can effectively and positively impact economic and social development by building the capacity of individuals and communities through practical, interactive, and comprehensive training designed to meet the needs of economic and community development professionals working in a fast paced environment.
The program consists of three, four-day training sessions which can be completed in subsequent years at the same site location or by fast tracking to multiple sites within the CDI network in a single year or more. Participants are exposed to a comprehensive, applied approach to community and economic development. In addition to learning from successful practitioners, CDI also offers valuable networking and peer‐to‐peer learning opportunities.
Available Dates
- June 9-12, 2025
Who Should Attend?
Participants include community and economic development practitioners, city, county and state officials and community volunteers, non-profit staff and board members, chamber staff, private industry, municipal districts, and academics, all of whom find the institute to be a valuable learning tool for the development of individual and community leadership skills. Attendees will expand their ability to identify community assets, set goals, encourage collaboration, and respond to a broad range of economic and quality of life issues.
Year 1
Focus is on the foundations of community development and includes group simulations providing participants with a better understanding of the challenges and benefits of a community development approach.
• Community Asset Mapping and Assessments
• Community and Economic Development Practice
• Community Strategic Visioning and Planning
• Identifying and Developing Stakeholders and Volunteers
• Understanding Community Economies
Year 2
Emphasis is placed on the “nuts and bolts” of implementing economic development strategies, including business attraction, expansion and retention, and entrepreneurship. Exploration of commercial and industrial development projects and group simulations are learning tools for this course.
• Building Entrepreneurial Communities
• Business Attraction and Site Selection
• Business Retention and Expansion
• Community and Economic Development Finance
• Quality of Place
Year 3
Focus is on implementing the knowledge gained in previous years plus acquiring skills in leadership, marketing and organizing the community development effort.
• Community Leadership Development
• Marketing Your Community
• Measuring Community Progress
• Workforce Planning and Development
CDI Advanced
The Advanced Year focuses on the application of community and economic development principles in a real-world setting. This two-day training is designed for individuals who have completed all three years of CDI as well as for non-CDI alumni working in the field who want to stay current with trends and best practices. Completion of Advanced CDI is recognized by the CDC for education requirements, training, work experience and eligibility criteria for re-certification.
PCED Certification
Enhance your career by becoming a Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED). CDI helps prepare you for this nationally-recognized certification offered through the Community Development Council (CDC). Application and eligibility information are available at cdcouncil.com. Pre-registration for the exam is required 45 days in advance. The PCED is optional and not required for CDI attendance.
CDI Across the Nation
CDI Southeast is part of a national network of training sites endorsed by the Community Development Council (CDC), a nationally-recognized, non-profit organization with the mission of advancing the practice and profession of community development. For more information about the CDC and CDI site locations visit cdcouncil.com.