Community Development Institute (CDI)
The mission of 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 professional 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.
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.
CDI Across the Nation
CDI is 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.
CDI Central
Director: Shelby Fiegel
University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey Avenue
Brewer-Hegeman 102
Conway, AR 72035
Email: sfiegel@uca.edu
Phone: 501.450.5269
2025 Training Dates:
July 28 – August 1
Brewer Hegeman Conference Center
University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035
2025 PCED Exam Dates:
March 13 (1 p.m. CST)
August 1 (1 p.m. CST)
October 23 (1 p.m. CST)
Brewer Hegeman Conference Center
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035
CDI Central in Bossier City
Co-Directors: Jessica Hemingway, PCED and Lisa Johnson
Bossier Chamber of Commerce
710 Benton Road
Bossier City, LA 71111
Email: cdila@bossierchamber.com
Phone: 318.746.0252
2025 Training Dates:
February 18-21
June 16-19
September 29-October 2
Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center
Bossier Parish Community College
6220 E. Texas Street, Building H
Bossier City, LA 71111
2025 PCED Exam Date:
October 3 (1 p.m. CST)
Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center
Bossier Parish Community College
6220 E. Texas Street, Building H
Bossier City, LA 71111
CDI Mid-Atlantic
Director: Roger Hesketh
University of Delaware
Biden School of Public Policy & Administration
100 W. 10th Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Email: rogergh@udel.edu
Phone: 302.573.4422
2024 Training Dates:
April 29-May 2
Community Education Building
University of Delaware
1200 N. French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
2024 PCED Exam Date:
May 3
Community Education Building
University of Delaware
1200 N. French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
CDI Midwest
Co-Directors: Christopher Merrett and Sandy Wittig
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
Western Illinois University
518 Stipes Hall 1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
Phone: 309.298.2281
Email: info@midwestcdi.org
2025 Training Dates:
August 11-14
Abraham Lincoln Hotel
701 E. Adams Street
Springfield, IL 62701
2025 PCED Exam Dates:
February 27
August 14
Abraham Lincoln Hotel
701 E. Adams Street
Springfield, IL 62701
CDI Northwest
Director: Jerry Miller
Idaho Commerce
700 West State Street, Boise, ID 83702
Email: jerry.miller@commerce.idaho.gov
Phone: 208.287.0780
2025 Training Dates:
July 21-25
The Riverside Hotel
2900 W. Chinden Boulevard
Garden City, ID 83714
2025 PCED Exam Dates:
July 25
The Riverside Hotel
2900 W. Chinden Boulevard
Garden City, ID 83714
CDI Southeast
Director: Mary Patterson, CPA, SHRM-CP, PCED
Teaching Innovation and Digital Education
The University of Alabama
Box 870388
3304 University Hall
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Email: mepatterson1@ua.edu
Phone: 205.348.704
2025 Training Dates:
June 9-12
Bryant Conference Center
The University of Alabama
240 Paul W. Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
CDI Texas
Director: Kay Fitzsimons
Lone Star College
5000 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
Email: kay.l.fitzsimons@lonestar.edu
Phone: 832.813.6623
2025 Training Dates:
March 3-6
Lone Star Community Building
Lone Star College-System Office The Woodlands
5000 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
2025 PCED Exam Date:
March 7 (9:30 a.m. CST)
Lone Star Community Building
Lone Star College-System Office The Woodlands
5000 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
