The Community and Regional Development Institute (CaRDI) has strong connections with state agencies and organizations that work to support local officials.
CaRDI’s approach to training promotes informed decision making, collaborative partnerships, and innovation.
Hallmarks are:
• Training based on applied research and analysis covering
- community dynamics
- historical, cultural, and community contexts
- community economic base
- the interplay between economic sectors
- the interpretation and use of socio-economic and demographic data
• Collaboration with regional and state organizations and agencies
• Promotion of peer-to-peer and community-to-community learning and the exchange of best practices
• Support of mechanisms that enhance regional coordination and cooperation
• Building from community and regional assets
impact statement issue
An increasing number of local elected officials seek training opportunities that address the skills and practices that are unique to leading a municipality, particularly practices and skills that improve performance in overall management and policy formation.
impact statement response
The Community and Regional Development Institute (CaRDI) responds to community leadership needs by providing a diverse and integrated portfolio of training opportunities for local government officials. Topics such as climate change, renewable energy, land use, and economic development receive a great deal of media attention, but these issues are intertwined and operate at multiple scales; a community or region cannot successfully consider them only as single or local issues.
impact statement summary
Elected leaders and public officials come from a variety of backgrounds and may not have had previous access to training related to their public roles. Many are part-time and lack formal training in governance. High turnover among local leaders can adversely affect the effectiveness and continuity of public management. Training based on applied research can help communities face rapid and profound social and economic change. The Community and Regional Development Institute (CaRDI) serves as a point of contact for Cornell Cooperative Extension associations, executive directors, and extension educators as they conduct community and economic vitality programming or provide resources to their elected officials and community leaders. CaRDI is a key portal to community development resources at the university.
