University News
Registration Now Open for 10th Annual Midwest Community Development Institute; 2015 Marks Decade in QC for Community Leader Training
April 27, 2015
MOLINE, IL — The 2015 Midwest Community Development Institute (CDI)—a four-day training event designed for development professionals, community leaders and elected officials—is set for Monday-Thursday, Aug. 10-13. Hosted by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois University, Midwest CDI will be held at the Stoney Creek Inn in Moline, marking the 10th consecutive year the training has been held in the Quad Cities. According to Midwest CDI Director John Gruidl, the event is flourishing in the QC area.
"The training is invigorated by the numerous examples of successful community revitalization in the Quad Cities. Local leaders graciously conduct presentations and lead field trips to visit successful projects in the region, " he noted. "We also enjoy many of the local attractions, such as Arsenal Island, the Figge Art Museum, the new Western Illinois University campus, local parks, biking along the river and much more."
Registration, schedule and location information for the Midwest CDI is available online at www.midwestcdi.org. According to Gruidl, the CDI experience educates participants in the 'how to" of community and economic development, while encouraging creativity and collaboration among attendees to work purposefully toward positive outcomes in their communities.
Completion of three years of CDI, along with a combination of other training, education and professional experience, can also qualify participants to sit for the Professional Community and Economic Developer Certification Exam (PCED), leading to a nationally-recognized certification as a professional community and economic developer, a valuable credential for development professionals, Gruidl said. The Midwest CDI is one of five sites throughout the country and is the only accredited site in the Midwest offering this training program.
"The interactive sessions and the presenters' levels of expertise at CDI are first rate," Gruidl added. "What amazes me most, however, is the learning and sharing that transpires among participants. CDI assembles more than 100 passionate and experienced community development professionals, each with a great story to share. The result is high energy, new ideas and inspiration."
Charlie Hilmes, the mayor of Breese (IL) and a two-time Midwest CDI attendee, said the training event emphasizes the need to develop working relationships with community groups, which will increase traffic in communities and regions.
"The discussions among CDI members from around the state, and even neighboring states, are my favorite part of this event—when attendees are sharing how they have achieved success and growth within their communities and regions."
Midwest CDI is a program of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University and is sponsored by Ameren Illinois, Economic Development Group, Ltd., MAPPING the Future of Your Community (IIRA) and the Small Business Development Center at Western Illinois University (IIRA).
For more information, contact Gruidl the IIRA at (309) 298-2237 or toll free at (800) 526-9943.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
Connect with us: