Courses

Community Development Academy

Community development practitioners will benefit from this intensive course, which is designed for community development practitioners and covers the concepts, methods, and strategies of community economic development. The course provides practitioners with perspectives and practical skills surrounding community development in North Carolina.

The Community Development Academy alternates each year between “in person” classroom format and “online via Zoom.” In 2025, the Academy will be held in person for 6 days: March 17-19 and April 14-16.

Dates for 2026

In-person for six days.  March 17-19 and April 14-16

 

Members of Civic Federal Credit Union (Civic) and Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU), who are local government employees, are eligible to apply for a scholarship towards tuition for conferences, classes, and seminars offered by the School of Government. There are four deadlines to submit applications:

  • March 1 (for courses starting between April 1 and June 30)
  • June 1 (for courses starting between July 1 and September 30)
  • September 1 (for courses starting between October 1 and December 31)
  • December 1 (for courses starting between January 1 and March 31)
Visit the Civic Foundation for more information and to submit an application

Additional information

Topics include:

  • community development finance
  • affordable housing strategies and tools
  • role of economic development
  • CDBG and related grant programs
  • environmental finance
  • visioning and citizen participation
  • tools for group decision-making
  • purchasing and contracting
  • measuring success
  • grants management

    Click Here to see Required Attendance Policy

    CONTINUING EDUCATION: This course is approved with the American Planning Association for 37 hours of AICP credits. Click HERE for more information. You can self-report your hours using THIS FORM.

The training enables each participant to receive a Certificate of completion, awarded by the School of Government. In order to receive a certificate, participants must attend the entire training course and successfully complete an open-book exam.
  • Chapel Hill, NC
    March 17 - 19, 2026
    April 14 - 16, 2026
    UNC School of Government
    400 South Rd.
    Chapel Hill, NC 27514
    View Scholarship Information

    Members of Civic Federal Credit Union (Civic) and Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU), who are local government employees, are eligible to apply for a scholarship towards tuition for conferences, classes, and seminars offered by the School of Government. There are four deadlines to submit applications:

    • March 1 (for courses starting between April 1 and June 30)
    • June 1 (for courses starting between July 1 and September 30)
    • September 1 (for courses starting between October 1 and December 31)
    • December 1 (for courses starting between January 1 and March 31)
    Visit the Civic Foundation for more information and to submit an application
    Register
    Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.

Scholarships Available for January to March 2025 courses: Apply by December 1, 2024, for a Civic Local Foundation Scholarship.

For all registration questions, resetting passwords, or login issues please contact:

Dale Zuckert

Assistant Registrar
919.966.4414
For questions regarding course details, including location, schedule, materials, and continuing education credits, please contact:

Claire Miller

Program Associate, Law and Finance
C. Tyler Mulligan
David M. Lawrence Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government; Lead Faculty, Development Finance Initiative
mulligan@sog.unc.edu