The Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) in collaboration with organizations of elected officials has developed training programs to enhance the capacity of New York local governments. These training programs draw on research-based outreach and shared experiences of leaders throughout the state. The training programs target village, town, and county elected and appointed officials as well as local leaders, and provide evidence-based information about community planning systems, decision-making processes, effective leadership, broad and inclusive civic engagement, and technical assistance. The program incorporates elements of conflict resolution, consensus building, and open community-based forums to encourage the effective consideration of diverse viewpoints in public policy and administration. Although CaRDI cannot provide the answers to how any given community should respond to complex issues, it provides a resource to encourage more effective democratic governance.
Currently CaRDI offers three training opportunities: (1) The Dennis A. Pelletier County Government Institute offers a comprehensive educational program for county officials. (2) The Cornell Municipal Clerks Institute is a premium educational opportunity for municipal officials. (3) The Rural Learning Network and semi-annual conference series focus on community and economic development issues vital to rural central and western New York.

New York communities are living through a period of remarkable change. They face challenges and new opportunities few could have predicted even a decade ago. To address these challenges, communities need educated leaders and officials with the capacity to develop and implement new and effective policies and practices. But leaders and public officials come from a variety of backgrounds and may not have had sufficient training to deal with complex and changing circumstances. The turnover in elected officials and the loss of experienced leadership is also a factor. A major challenge is helping communities develop and maintain the leadership needed to move forward. Capable leaders are prepared to fully take advantage of state and federal resources and opportunities. Increased training on research-based strategies can help communities face rapid and profound social change, often with leaders who have relatively little governance experience.

Each of the training programs is designed to assist public officials in villages, towns, cities, and counties to more effectively serve the public. The programs enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of county officials to allow them to engage in informed, constructive, and civil discussions on the challenges they face as public servants. In 2007 training was provided to about 500 public officials in New York state.
More than 250 individuals participated in county legislative workshops provided by the Pelletier County Government Institute. In the Cornell Municipal Clerks Institute, 65 municipal officials were exposed to new knowledge and skills that enhanced the professional administration of their offices. Almost 200 public officials, nonprofit agency personnel, business leaders and other decision makers, and citizens participated in the Rural Learning Network of Central New York. The workshops focused on community and economic development issues vital to rural areas throughout New York.

The objective of CaRDI training programs is to strengthen the development capacity of upstate municipalities and regions based on research-based outreach and training and shared experiences. These efforts have impacts in two important ways. First, almost 500 persons received training to improve their skills and the capacity to more effectively manage their offices. Second, the programs promote communication across jurisdictions, agencies, and localities, thus building a foundation for enhanced regional coordination and cooperation and fostering community-to-community learning.

Community and Rural Development