Certificate Programs
Business Retention and Expansion Strategies
Between 40 and 80 percent of all new job creation comes from existing businesses. The Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Strategies program works with existing business while deliberately involving a cross-section of community leaders. This approach builds understanding of business needs leading to development of a community-wide strategic action plan.
The
University of Minnesota Extension Service is offers courses to teach community
development professionals this approach. Those interested in learning
how to conduct a program using this approach can take the BR&E Consultant
Certification course either live or online. Participants in either
course will have an opportunity to earn
certification by Business Retention
and Expansion International.
An additional on-line course is the BR&E Research Reports where participants learn how to analyze data and prepare high-quality research reports that communities want and will use.
For more information and to register for these courses, visit the University of Minnesota B R & E Strategies Course Page. Please consider joining us and refer your colleagues, especially those who may be new to our field.
Community Development Academy
The University of Missouri Community Development
Extension Program offers a series of three courses called the Community
Development Academy. Each of the three courses is an intensive, experiential,
five-day course that explores ideas and develops practical skills for
effectively involving and empowering local citizens and leaders in
community-based efforts.
Offered this fall:
For additional course information and to register, please visit the academy website.Course 1: Building Communities from the Grassroots
Course 3: Creating Capacity for Dynamic Communities
If you have questions or would like to request a brochure, please contact Steve Jeanetta at (573) 884-8946 or e-mail: JeanettaS@Missouri.edu.
Community Development Institute (CDI) East
The Community Development Institute (CDI) East is a series of week-long education and training sessions focusing on community development. It is one of five institutes endorsed by the International Community Development Council that have integrated curriculum. Completion of all three years can lead to certification from the council as a Certified Community Developer or Certified Community Development Partner.
Year I provides the basics and includes a simulation exercise. Year II looks at specific topics in detail and includes a project. Year III features advanced topics and pulls everything together.
The focus of these sessions is to help make places better (improving the quality of life of residents, providing amenities, improving infrastructure). The idea is to help form a foundation for economic development efforts.
The target audience includes development authority directors, community leaders, local government officials, non-profit and community organization directors, regional, state, multi-state, and federal agency officials, or anyone interested in community development.
Benefits include a valuable professional development opportunity, better understanding of community development, as well as possible college credit and continue education units.
For more information, visit the website.
Helping Small Towns II…Tools for Community Survival.
Your rural community may be struggling with a declining population, welcoming new immigrants, or adjusting to a changing global economy. Whatever the challenge, as a community builder, you need tools to get your town working again.
The Heartland Center’s premier training program has helped hundreds of rural community leaders and practitioners get the job done.