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Improving Communities and Increasing Opportunities

Never before has the practice of community development been more important than it is today. As the world grows smaller through the increased use of global communications, communities of all sizes are finding their boundaries are expanding beyond their city limits. CDI Texas provides practical, interactive, and comprehensive training designed to meet the needs of economic and community development professionals working in a fast paced environment. CDI Texas builds the capacity of individuals and communities to effectively and positively impact economic and social development.

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 will find the Institute 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.

Curriculum

The complete program consists of three, one-week training sessions.  In addition to learning from successful practitioners, CDI also offers valuable networking and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.  Each CDI site offers the core curriculum courses listed below in addition to other course offerings based on site needs and demographics.

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, Leaders 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.

Registration and Attendance

The cost to attend CDI Texas is $600 and CDI Advanced course is $350. Registration covers training, participant materials, breakfast and refreshment breaks daily. Accommodations, lunch, and dinner costs are the responsibility of the participant. All sessions will be held at the Lone Star Community Building located at 5000 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381.

Attendance at all sessions is required to earn full credit. If a participant misses more than 10 percent of the course sessions, credit for course completion will not be given. Completion of CDI earns one PCED certification or re-certification point.

CDI Across the Nation

CDI Texas 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.