University News
WIU Offers Community Development Training in QC This August
May 4, 2012
MOLINE, IL -- Are you concerned about your town's economic future? Do you want to acquire the latest knowledge and skills to be an effective leader? Through the Midwest Community Development Institute (CDI), community leaders have an opportunity to learn about new approaches to making their communities better places to work and live. The Midwest CDI is hosted by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois University and is being offered again Monday-Thursday Aug. 6-9 at the Stoney Creek Inn in Moline.
According to Midwest Community Development Institute Director John Gruidl, CDI is a fun, intensive four-day training program in community and economic development designed for development professionals, community leaders and elected officials.
"Every year, I am impressed with the participants as much as the presenters," Gruidl said. "The participants are remarkably talented and diverse, including local economic developers; community developers; mayors; city council members; city and village administrators; staff from state, regional and federal agencies; and community volunteers. These folks are on the front lines leading change in their communities."
Gruidl noted that participants are trained in the "how to" of community and economic development and learn techniques to bring positive change to their communities. CDI can also lead to a nationally recognized certification as a professional community and economic developer, a valuable credential for development professionals, he added.
"CDI is an invaluable experience for anyone involved in community and economic development," noted Jim Carroll, a past participant from Stewardson (IL). "Whether it is your job or not, if you have a vested interest in seeing your community grow and improve, this is for you. The instructors, topics covered and class time are great, but what takes this to another level is the value that you get from networking with so many devoted and interesting people, hearing their stories and from learning from each other."
According to Gruidl, CDI features presenters from across the country who are experts in community and economic development, such as Jennifer Tanner from Janus Economics, a consulting company. Tanner has decades of experience in helping businesses find desirable sites and leading strategic planning for communities, he said.
CDI also includes a reception at the new Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Riverfront Campus, a field trip to a successful development project in the Quad Cities and dinner at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport (IA).
For more information, contact the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at (309) 298-2337 or via email at info@midwestcdi.org or visit www.midwestcdi.org.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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