Mark Your Calendar for CDI West 2027
We’re excited to begin planning CDI West 2027 and anticipate hosting the conference during the week of July 12-16. Venue and registration details will be shared once confirmed.
About the Institute
Empowering People. Strengthening Communities.
Formerly known as the Northwest Community Development Institute, the Community Development Institute West (CDI West) preserves a long-standing tradition of delivering one of the most educational and inspiring community development training programs in the country. The new name reflects a broader regional reach and growing network of partners across the Western United States, while maintaining the same high-quality, memorable experience participants have enjoyed for years.
What you’ll Gain
Same Goals, New Hosts
CDI West is presented by the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC). In cooperation with previous CDI host, Idaho Department of Commerce and Business Oregon, WRDC is excited to provide event management, regional insight, and new opportunities for engagement.
With a top‑tier curriculum and world‑class trainers, CDI West offers a transformative experience designed to give you the tools and confidence to address complex challenges in your community and region. Participants gain practical information, fresh perspectives, and immediately applicable skills. The program also provides valuable opportunities to network with peer professionals from across the West, allowing you to share knowledge, projects, and lived experiences.
After completing all three years of CDI West, participants are eligible to complete the exam for Professional Community and Economic Development (PCED) certification, further demonstrating their commitment to excellence in community and economic development.
Why now
This Training Matters Now More than Ever
CDI West offers training in the essentials of creating healthy communities and economies – critical to survive and thrive in a time of shifting funding, policies and priorities. The Rural West needs increased local capacity, civic engagement and leadership development; new revenue and cooperative models; strong civic institutions; and a sense of shared responsibility and local ownership—all strategies covered at CDI West.
Is this Conference Right for You?
Who Comes to CDI West? People Like You Who Are Ready to Make a Difference
If you support communities, whether through economic development, housing, livability, education, business, government, or local grassroots initiatives—CDI West is where you’ll find the tools and peer networks to help you lead more effectively. Participants come from all corners of the West, bringing diverse experiences and a shared purpose: to build stronger, more vibrant communities.
In general, you’ll fit right in if you identify with any of the following:
Community & Economic Development
Housing and Community Access
Policy Makers & Elected Officials
Government, Tribal and Civic Leaders
Nonprofit Organization Staff & Leadership
Extension Educators & University Faculty
Business & Industry Representatives
Community Volunteers & Board Members
Whether you’re new to community development or an experienced leader, CDI West equips you with actionable skills, proven tools, and a strong regional network.
CDI West is endorsed by the Community Development Council (CDC) and was recognized by Community Development Society International for superior programming that exemplifies and positively influences community development practice.
Program & Curriculum
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION LEVELS, NATIONAL ACCREDITATION,
& CDI WEST AGENDAS
CDI West is part of a national network of Community Development Institutes governed by the Community Development Council (CDC). For information on the other Institutes, see the CDC website.
Each CDI site offers the core curriculum courses (listed below) in addition to other course offerings based on site needs and demographics. The program can be completed in subsequent years at the same site location or by fast tracking to multiple sites within the CDI network in a single year or more.
One of the best parts of CDI was meeting people from different communities who all care about making their communities stronger. I learned a lot from their experiences and ideas, and those conversations were a big part of what made the program so worthwhile. I left feeling encouraged, energized, and with ideas I could use in my own work.” – Monica Hampton, Idaho
All core curriculum topics are based on the Community Development Handbook, which participants are provided digitally during Year 1 of CDI (included in registration costs). The core curriculum is the foundation of the Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) exam. Graduates of CDI interested in becoming PCED certified can learn more about the PCED exam and certification on the CDC website.
Year 1: Foundations
Year One focuses on the foundations of community development and includes group simulations providing participants with a better understanding of the challenges and
benefits of a community development approach.
- Community Asset Mapping and Assessments
- Community and Economic Development Practice
- Community Strategic Visioning and Planning
- Identifying and Developing Stakeholders, Leaders, and Volunteers
- Understanding Community Economies
Year 2: Implementation
Year Two emphasizes the “nuts and bolts” of implementing economic development strategies, including business attraction, expansion and retention, and entrepreneurship.
Overviews of commercial and industrial development projects and group simulations are
learning tools for this course.
- Building Entrepreneurial Communities
- Business Attraction and Site Selection
- Business Retention and Expansion
- Community and Economic Development Finance
- Quality of Place
Year 3: Leadership
Year Three centers on implementing the knowledge gained in previous years plus acquiring skills in leadership, marketing, and organizing the community development effort.
- Community Leadership Development
- Marketing Your Community
- Measuring Community Progress
- Workforce Planning and Development
Advanced Course – Not Offered in 2026
The Advanced CDI course will not be offered in 2026. This course is typically designed for participants who have completed all three years of CDI and provides an opportunity to apply community and economic development principles in a real-world setting.
Please check back for future offerings.
Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) Exam
July 24, 2026, at 1 p.m. Applications to complete the Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) exam must be submitted to the CDC a minimum of 45 days prior to the testing date.
Look for more information on 2027 coming soon!
Look for more information on 2027 coming soon!
Tomorrow’s Leaders
Sponsorship Opportunities
The Community Development Institute West (CDI West) equips current and emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to strengthen communities across the Western United States. Through applied training and peer learning, CDI West supports the development of resilient local economies, a high quality of life, and inclusive, engaged leadership.
CDI West 2026, hosted by the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC), offers organizations a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to professional development and to the long‑term vitality of rural and community development efforts throughout the West.
While WRDC provides core support for CDI West, additional sponsorships are essential to ensure broad access, high‑quality programming, and a strong participant experience. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 institute are now available, and sponsors will be recognized throughout the Institute, so participants clearly understand who helped make CDI West possible.
Your Investment Will
Learn More about our Sponsorship Opportunities
Support CDI West
For more information about sponsorship opportunities for CDI West 2026, please contact:
wrdc@uidaho.edu or 208-885-6762.
Fiscal handling for CDI West is administered by the Extension Foundation. Donations to CDI West, made through the Extension Foundation, are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Thank You to the 2026 Sponsors!
how can we help
Questions About the Conference?
Contact the WRDC team at wrdc@uidaho.edu or 208-885-6762.