Community Economic Development

Community Economic Development (CED) is a process by which members of the community come together out of a common interest, concern for, and desire to develop their community. This process takes an approach that builds long-term community capacity and spirit.

CED fosters integration of economic, social, and environmental objectives. CED is not restricted to generating and initiating solutions to common economic problems that may exist. CED includes proactively identifying and creating opportunities for broader community betterment and resiliency.

The role of the WWCFDC within the county/region is to facilitate or enable communities to help themselves.  The corporation assists with this bottom-up approach by acting as resource at every step of the way.   We can help with establishing community and regional goals, plans and programs, and implementing courses of action to pursue them, ensuring that planning is followed by action.  We assist in:

Ø       Defining goals and objectives

Ø       Identifying potential projects

Ø       Planning and implementation

Ø       Identifying Government assistance programs

Ø       Identifying sources of capital

Board of Directors 

WWCFDC is a community economic development program that is managed by a community representative Board of Directors.

Board Members:

· Provide governance for the organization, represent it in the community and ultimately accept legal responsibility for it.

· Act on behalf and represent the views of the CFDC's constituents - the citizens of the community.

· Have the principal responsibility for the carrying out of the organization's mission and strategic objectives.

· Accomplish their functions through attendance at regular meetings plus participation on committees and sub-committees.

· Charged with four phases of organizational development planning, organization, operations, and audit/evaluation

Reasons for Being a CFDC Board Member?

Interest in community economic development
Asked
Expand personal perspective and experience
Personal concerns about the future of the individual community or sector
Learn about management, government, financing, training, etc.
Meet new people and develop social, business and professional networks
Desire to have an impact on the future of the rural west community

What are Board Member Expectations of the CFDC?

To work together to establish a successful program
To work as a strong team to develop the community/region and work towards the organization’s goals and objectives
To push ahead to overcome hurdles
To work in small steps towards big things
General improvement in their individual community and the region as a whole

What are the CFDCs expectations of its Board members? What are the responsibilities of a Board member?

To be a fair representative of the community, region, sector
To attend board meetings and participate in the plans of action
To participate actively on meeting the needs of the region and the individual communities, sectors and segments of the community/region
To help set goals and objectives and see them realized
To report back to the community/region
To be as informed as possible
To share and offer expertise and act as a resource providing direction, support and encouragement; to have input and ideas
To share responsibility for decision-making and use sound judgment
To be dedicated, honest, committed and cooperative
To work in the best interests of and support the decisions of the committee as a whole, even when these do not necessarily correspond to individual beliefs
To assist in resolving conflicts which may arise within the Board

What are the rights of a CFDC Board member?