CDI builds the capacity of leaders and communities to positively impact local economies and enhance quality of life

Never before has the practice of community development been more important than it is today.

What is the Community Development Institute (CDI)?

As the world grows smaller through globalization, communities of all sizes are finding their boundaries are expanding and their fortunes directly tied to events and forces beyond their local city limits. This increases the pressure on communities to plan strategically and develop a clear vision for the future.

The Community Development Institute (CDI) is a community and economic development training offered across the nation and endorsed by the Community Development Council (CDC).

CDI is the go-to resource for community and economic development training. Participants learn the skills and strategies they need to make an immediate impact on their communities and organizations. CDI is beneficial for any community leader: elected officials, economic and community developers, city planners, nonprofit professionals, and more.

At CDI, our participants learn how to connect community assets with opportunities, build consensus with local and regional leaders, sustain the economic development process over time, and they gain a network of diverse leaders they can learn from and call on.

The CDC is a nonprofit organization founded to promote the advancement of community development professionals through the accreditation of educational programs, professional certifications, and the development of community leaders.

Testimonials

"Individuals are now choosing community development as their vocation of choice. Utilities and other private sector companies have recognized the importance of strong communities to their bottom line and are devoting staff to the practice of community development.

Organizations such as chambers of commerce are allocating staff to community development activities resulting in a healthier community so that dollars invested in business recruitment and infrastructure may be fully realized."

Ray Laughter

CDC Board Member
Former Community Development Council Chairman

Our Story

In 1995, the Community Development Council (CDC) was incorporated to provide the next level of qualification through a Certified Community Developer (CCD) program designed to advance the standards of competence among community development professionals.

Photo of large group of multi-cultural faces

The certification program is now called the Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED), and involves the identification of core competencies required for effective community development, integrating these competencies into professional development opportunities, certification study materials, testing of knowledge and demonstration of applied learning, and a method for re-certification beyond the initial three-year period. The certification program is intended for paid professionals currently involved in the practice of community and economic development who may have a career need for professional credentials.

Who We Are

The Community Development Institute is a training program designed to enhance the leadership and management capabilities of those individuals responsible for developing their communities. CDI’s mission is to empower participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to proactively improve the physical and human resources of their communities and therefore increasing the quality of life for all citizens. There are currently seven CDI locations including CDI Central in Arkansas, a CDI Central satellite site in Louisiana, CDI Mid-Atlantic in Delaware, CDI Midwest in Illinois, CDI Northwest in Idaho, CDI Southeast in Alabama and CDI Texas.