Certified Cities Program - Building Capacity State-wide

Many states are actively working to assist their communities to build capacity and sharpen focus on community and economic development. They often use "Certified Cities" programs to guide and support these efforts but frequently the work is very subjectively designed and ineffectively carried out.

How can states develop a curriculum that informs communities about approaches to build their local capacity? How can states best help communities strategically position themselves for the future?

Introducing the Building Communities Certified Cities Program

Building Communities offers the nation’s first objective, comprehensive approach to community and economic development strategic planning. Two quickly administered analyses—Community Organizer Assessment and the Key Success Factor Analysis—give states and their communities many benefits:

Communities are objectively scored on a scale of 0 – 100 relative to their capacity to envision and enact their future
Communities receive an immediate report that not only assesses their capacity, but prescribes very specific exercises to increase capacity
Communities receive a report that, in effect, is 25 simultaneous feasibility studies scoring the likelihood of successfully implementing each of the 25 community and economic development strategies presented in the Building Communities approach
Communities build local teams to develop their strategic plan and then immediately begin implementing it—with the state more of a partner than ever
The state becomes a focused, strategic partner in the advancement of its communities

Why Our Approach is Better

The table below compares the standard certification approach to the Building Communities approach.

Standard Approach	Building Communities Approach
Subjective approach to assessing capacity	*Community Organizer Assessment,* which addresses 14 elements of community and business development capacity
Random approach to improving capacity	Very specific capacity findings, recommendations and exercises
Generally does not include strategic planning	Option to utilize the *Key Success Factor Analysis* to build locally based community and economic development strategic plans
Strategic planning is generic	Strategic planning process designed specifically for application to cities and counties
Follow-up action frequently missing	Dozens of recommended action steps built into both of the above analyses
Does not showcase state-specific programs	Session jointly designed by Building Communities and the state focused upon state-specific resources

How the Program Works

States seeking to establish or improve a Certified Cities Program create a Program Manager position designed to deliver the statewide programming.

Building Communities then works with the state’s Certified Cities Program Manager to scope out the program:

Participation. How many communities can participate? Over what period of time? Will there be phased participation?
Programming. What level of programming is sought?
- Capacity Builder Level—Administration of the Community Organizer Assessment; delivery and presentation of report and capacity building recommendations
- Action Level—same as Capacity Builder Level, plus administration of the Key Success Factor Analysis generating a community and economic development strategic plan
- Alliance Level—same as Action Level, plus engagement of Building Communities to assist in plan implementation (in collaboration with the state) for a defined period of time
Selection. How are communities selected for the program? Is there an application process? What is included in the application? Are there thresholds for application (Resolution of commitment by governing body? Local match? Local committee formed?) What is the deadline? Who determines which communities participate?
Notification. How are communities notified of their selection? How do communities mobilize to participate? What is the role of the state and Building Communities in notifying communities?
Program Delivery. Who is responsible for program logistics? What are the expectations of the communities (Provision of facilities? Snacks? Local media coordination?) Does the state wish to review draft documents before review by the community? How proactive does the state wish to be in terms of focusing funding and programming to assist communities to implement capacity building and strategic plan findings?

Getting Underway

Building Communities recognizes that states differ with respect to Certified Cities programming. Some states have been administering such programs for many years but may be looking for a more objective approach, while others are establishing their programs for the first time. Our methodology is flexible and can easily accommodate these differences.

We invite you to fully explore the benefits to your state of our approach. Contact us today at (928) 814-3710.