Community & Economic Development Program Builder

CD-DIAL works with communities, organizations, and state and local agencies to assist and build decision-making capacity in these groups, especially as they collect and use information about their local population members or the constituents they serve.

We conduct surveys through mail, online and telephone surveys. We work with stakeholders from conceptualizing the survey (i.e. questionnaire development, sampling, etc.) up to report writing/presentation of the result. We work closely with the client. The team gathers and analyzes the data, writes the report, and presents the results as requested by the client.

CD-DIAL can produce mailing lists if needed.  We can perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of data as well as spatial representation of data in the form of GIS maps.

This is an interdisciplinary, inter-institutional master''s program that is entirely online. The program is offered by the Great Plains IDEA (Interactive Distance Education Alliance).

The Master of Community Development degree program is for community leaders, practitioners, and for those committed to people and places.  It provides the skills, information, and networks needed to facilitate sustainable and prosperous community change.  This degree program equips practitioners with the tools necessary to build community for the 21st century.

Check this website for more information:
http://www.gpidea.org/index.html

Array of community economic analyses for groups, communities, and regions with an interest in understanding their economic structure or in understanding the consequences of economic change.

Series of educational meetings aimed to enhance civic understanding and leadership skills of newly arrived immigrants to Iowa. New residents plan the program’s content and program is delivered in participants’ native language with translation to English. Opens a dialogue between new residents and established community leaders, helps participants connect with other new residents and gain knowledge and confidence to take part in community, school and government activities.

keywords:  Latino, Hispanic, immigrant

Field Specialists are available for consulting, technical assistance, tailored training, planning, and organizational development services.

Topics and issues include economic development, local government, community planning, tourism, grant writing, nonprofit management, Latino community and business development, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and housing.

Products available include:

• Strategic Planning or Organizational Goal--Setting Establish an organizational or community vision and set priorities by engaging key stakeholders in a structured process.
• Consultation and Technical Assistance-- Specialists work directly with an organization on a problem or issue to provide advice, research, information, and assistance in developing solutions.
• Board Development-- Training boards of directors to understand their roles and responsibilities in the governance of organizations.
•  Training Sessions --A variety of tailored training can include professional development presentations, team-building, or one-time workshops on special topics of interest.
• Facilitation--Group processes and tools are used to help organizations resolve conflicts, organize new community groups, develop partnerships and collaborations, enhance community participation, or strengthen existing group structures.

Features of this program include networking and a connection to local issues and opportunities, group or individual work around a real project if they choose, and a strong emphasis on personal skills development.

keywords:  leadership, community, volunteer, management

The CVC Governance Board has adopted three primary initiatives:

*Enhancing Community Entrepreneurship in Iowa

*Improving Community Foundations and Philanthropy in Iowa

*Identifying and Analyzing Actionable Elements of the Rural Policy Differential

• Identify and focus on your top priorities
  
• Get more of the right things done in less time
  
• Setting guiding goals
  
• Manage information better
  
• Overcome Procrastination
  
• Take control of incoming information
  
• Renew your enthusiasm
  
• Energize and control your days.

One and two day courses for groups of 6 to 12 participants covering basics of ArcGIS 10.X and extensions, geodatabase construction, CommunityViz, and 3D integration with SketchUp. Hands-on experience. Continuing education units available.

keywords:  training, mapping, GIS, GPS

New interactive technologies on the Web such as Google Maps, Google Earth or other Web 2.0 applications capable of geotagging information enables citizens to create their own personal maps of a community or specific place. Termed Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) this information can be used to by decision makers as they plan the future of a community.

This three-hour program is held in eight locations annually every spring.  It is designed to introduce the basic concepts of planning and zoning to local officials.  Topics include the comprehensive plan, the zoning and subdivision ordinances, and the roles of elected councils and boards, the planning commission and the board of adjustment in land use decision-making.

Provides professional landscape planning and design services to rural Iowa communities with populations under 10,000. Communities learn to employ participatory decision-making processes and implementation strategies, and each community receives a conceptual design plan that can be used to implement landscape and transportation enhancements. Past projects include transportation corridor enhancements, community signage, downtown streetscape improvements, recreational trail development, etc. Collaborating partners include Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa State University Department of Landscape Architecture, Trees Forever.

Provides career-enhancing workshops to equip nonprofit professionals with skills to more effectively manage their organizations or specific programs. Workshop topics have included financial management, governance and leadership, diversity issues, technology management, effective supervision, etc. Continuing education units and certification available.

keywords:  staff development