Quote: "Community economic development (CED) is a field of study that actively elicits community involvement when working with government, and private sectors to build strong communities, industries, and markets."
The process of creating and sustaining economic opportunities and infrastructure in a community in order to improve the quality of life for residents.
Understanding Poverty: Poverty is a complex phenomenon that affects people and communities differently. To effectively engage in community economic development, it is important to have a deep understanding of poverty and its causes.
Asset-Based Community Development: This approach to community development focuses on identifying and building upon the strengths and assets of a community rather than just trying to fix its problems.
Community Engagement: Community engagement involves working with community members to identify needs, opportunities, and resources and involve them in decision-making and implementation.
Economic Development Strategies: Economic development strategies are designed to create jobs, foster economic growth, and improve the living conditions of individuals and communities.
Policy Analysis: Policy analysis involves studying and evaluating the effectiveness of policies and programs that impact communities' social and economic well-being.
Social Enterprise Development: Social enterprises are businesses that operate with a social mission. Social enterprise development involves understanding the social and economic opportunities for creating sustainable employment and service delivery models.
Financial Management: Financial management is a critical aspect of community economic development, including budgeting, fundraising, and grant-writing.
Program Evaluation: Program evaluation involves assessing the impact of community economic development programs and identifying areas of improvement.
Leadership and Management: Effective leadership and management are essential to the successful implementation of community economic development initiatives.
Public Policy: Public policy shapes the environment in which community economic development takes place and includes issues such as housing, education, and taxation.
Social Enterprises: These are businesses that prioritize social, environmental, or community benefits over profits. They integrate social and economic goals to create sustainable community development.
Micro-enterprises: These are small-scale businesses operated by individuals or groups that often provide services or goods to their local community. Through small loans or microcredit programs, micro-enterprises can be established as a means of economic development.
Worker Cooperatives: These are businesses owned and managed by the workers themselves. They promote economic democracy and help workers to gain control over their livelihoods.
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs): These are financial institutions focused on providing credit and financial support to low-income and underserved communities. They are often involved in providing microloans, housing loans, and small business loans to people who might not have access to traditional financing.
Community Land Trusts: These are community-based organizations that hold land and other assets in trust to ensure that they are used for the benefit of the community. Through land trusts, communities can gain control over the use of land and promote affordable housing initiatives.
Community Development Corporations (CDCs): These are locally-based nonprofit organizations that focus on community revitalization through joint efforts with public and private institutions. They may engage in a variety of activities such as community organizing, housing development, and economic development initiatives to build stronger neighborhoods and communities.
Local Currency Systems: These are alternative forms of currency used in a local area to support locally owned businesses and services. They help to circulate money within the community and reduce dependence on outside financial sources.
Quote: "It includes collaborative and participatory involvement of community dwellers in every area of development that affects their standard of living."
Quote: "Community economic development encourages using local resources in a way that enhances economic opportunities while improving social conditions in a sustainable way."
Quote: "Often CED initiatives are implemented to overcome crises and increase opportunities for communities who are disadvantaged."
Quote: "CED is a community-centered process that blends social and economic development to foster the economic, social, ecological and cultural well-being of communities."
Quote: "For example, neighborhood business organizations target growth in specific commercial areas by lobbying government authorities for special tax rates and real estate developments."
Quote: "Its central tenet is that: '... problems facing communities—unemployment, poverty, job loss, environmental degradation and loss of community control—need to be addressed in a holistic and participatory way.'"
Quote: "Community economic development actively elicits community involvement when working with government and private sectors."
Quote: "CED encourages using local resources in a way that enhances economic opportunities while improving social conditions in a sustainable way."
Quote: "CED is a community-centered process that blends social and economic development, addressing community issues holistically and through active participation."
Quote: "CED aims to foster the economic, social, ecological, and cultural well-being of communities."
Quote: "CED initiatives are implemented to overcome crises and increase opportunities for communities who are disadvantaged."
Quote: "CED is a field of study that actively involves community dwellers in every area of development that affects their standard of living."
Quote: "CED includes collaborative and participatory involvement of community dwellers in all areas of development."
Quote: "CED encourages the use of local resources in a sustainable way to enhance economic opportunities and improve social conditions."
Quote: "CED is an aspect of 'localizing economics,' as it focuses on utilizing local resources and involving community members."
Quote: "CED blends social and economic development in a way that fosters the ecological well-being of communities."
Quote: "CED initiatives are implemented to overcome crises, unemployment, poverty, and job loss in disadvantaged communities."
Quote: "CED aims to foster the economic, social, ecological, and cultural well-being of communities."
Quote: "CED emphasizes the need to address loss of community control through a holistic and participatory approach."