MIDWEST CDI CURRICULUM

The CDI curriculum gives participants a core body of knowledge and skills in Community Development and Economic Development.

Community Development

Is concerned with improving the social, cultural and environmental aspects of the community creating an overall better quality of life. Efforts are organized to encourage organizational development and to improve community assets, such as parks, downtown, housing, community events, community pride, capacity to work together, etc.

Economic Development

Seeks to create quality, long-term jobs and an increased tax base. Efforts are organized to catalyze business start-ups, attract new businesses from outside the community, and encourage expansions and retention of existing firms.

At the Midwest CDI, we believe that Community Development and Economic Development are complementary. In our view, the goal of development is a coordinated effort that stimulates both, and thereby, makes for an economically and socially vibrant community.

Therefore, it is important for development professionals to have an understanding of both Community Development and Economic Development, regardless of whether they focus on one or the other in their current job. At CDI, best practices in Community Development and Economic Development are presented and explained.

The complete curriculum consists of three four-day sessions, or "years."

Year One: Foundations of Community Development, Year Two: Implementing Projects, Year Three: Putting It All Together

Year One focuses on the Foundations of Community Development. It covers community development principles and practices, strategic visioning and planning, facilitating meetings, asset-mapping, community assessment, managing volunteers, and group decision-making. The New Town Community Simulation helps participants better understand the challenge and benefit of a community development approach.

Year Two focuses on Economic Development, on the "nuts and bolts" of implementing specific economic development projects, such as how to put together a financing package, how to establish a business retention and expansion program, how to support entrepreneurs, how to use the social media tools to promote your community, and how to begin a brownfield redevelopment.

Year Three focuses on Putting It All Together: how to coordinate community and economic development efforts for the best possible results. Participants learn skills in how to start and maintain a successful development organization, how to market your community and organization, and how to work with the media and board. Furthermore, they learn how Community Foundations leverage philanthropy to improve liveability. They learn how community events and assets translate into income and tax revenue when tourism is a priority.

Field trips within the Quad Cities area are provided for each Year to enhance the curriculum with a real world example. The Field Trip provides an opportunity for participants to visit a project and ask questions of those involved in its implementation.

After completing three years of CDI, participants are well-prepared for the examination to become a Professional Community and Economic Developer.