Local developers complete Community Development Institute

Local developers complete Community Development Institute

Sherman Smith, Emily Hancock finish program in Conway

Economic & Community Development Manager CONWAY — Sherman Smith, Community Liaison, and Emily Hathcock, Economic and Community Development Manager, of East Arkansas Planning & Development District recently completed the Year 3 Class and Year 1 Class, respectively, of the 30th Annual Community Development Institute Central (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas on August 1-5, 2016.

CDI trains community leaders and economic development professionals on how to strengthen their local economies and build communities. This is achieved by developing the ability of participants to identify community assets, set goals, encourage collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders, and bring communities, organizations and businesses together to respond to a broad range of economic and quality of life issues.

The complete institute experience is a three year program, with one week of training per year.

Participants move through the program curriculum in cohorts, and are exposed to a comprehensive, applied approach to the field of community and economic development.

UCA is the birthplace for the Community Development Institute, which started in 1987 in partnership with Entergy, Southwestern Bell, and ARKLA. Since that time, CDIs have been established in Texas, Idaho, Alabama and Illinois, and a national governing and certification body, the Community Development Council, has been created.

More information about CDI can be found at www.uca.edu/cdi.

EAPDD is a non-profit, regional planning and development agency, serving a twelve-county area of East Arkansas. The District's purpose is to promote and support the economic development of the region. It does this by providing technical assistance to the cities, counties, businesses, and other development organizations in the area, and by networking extensively with state and federal resource agencies. For more information on East Arkansas Planning & Development District, www.eapdd.com.

EAPDD’s Sherman Smith and Emily Hathcock

From Emily Hathcock