Today, the Florida Community Development Association (FCDA) membership represents approximately 100 local governments throughout the state, involved in achieving housing, community development and economic development programs and objectives. The FCDA strives to provide practical and technical assistance to its members, in order to better plan, prioritize, and carry out local improvements and services to assist low and moderate-income residents.

FCDA is striving to be the State’s leading training and advocacy organization for Florida Community Development Professionals. We earnestly want to hear more from members about the trainings they want to see presented in order to better respond to their identified needs.  In those instances where it may not be practical for FCDA to present the training, we will partner with others, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, State Department of Community Affairs, National Community Development Association to make the training or information available.

One of the guiding principles of this Association is to promote excellence in the administration and implementation of community development programs. Programs and requirements change and we work diligently to make sure our members are fully prepared to react to those nuances. We also recognize excellence in community development programs through the Florida Community Development Association Award and the James E. Huger Distinguished Service Award.

We are closely aligned with the National Community Development Association (NCDA) and their data network and advocacy efforts. In past years, the membership has been canvassed about proposed or enacted HUD requirements. Our FCDA comments and information have been fueled into the national position used to provide meaningful insight, efficiency and effectiveness of policies, and influence the way policies will be carried out.

Our combined voice representing so many CD Professionals and clients across the nation is a very powerful tool, and the more members we have the stronger we are. We need to be in a position where we can explore members’ concerns, respond to challenges, requests for information, or errant policy…quickly.  

The Florida Community Development Association is a haven for CD Practitioners that can effectively facilitate training, gather information to respond to questions, provide meaningful insight and opportunities for networking, peer-to-peer counseling, and promote excellence in the field of community development.