ACCE News
Ford Foundation Renews Support of The Regionalism & Sustainable Development Fellowship
Alexandria, VA -
Nearly two years ago, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) and the Ford Foundation teamed together to present the Regionalism and Sustainable Development Fellowship (RSD) — a multi-year educational experience for chamber of commerce leaders seeking to sustain, grow and share economic prosperity through regional strategies. The first 37 participants in this Fellowship program are completing their work this month. ACCE is now pleased to announce that this outstanding program has been funded for another two years by the Ford Foundation, and assisted by the Alliance for Regional Stewardship and the FutureWorks research firm. Their support is allowing ACCE to recruit another 50 Fellows, who will be trained in the practices and principles of building lasting, regional economic prosperity.
"Receiving the renewed support of the Ford Foundation for this program was a strong endorsement of the Fellowship’s value for communities and regions . . . and the people who lead them. We are thrilled to be able to offer this program once again to help those who are dealing with both regionalism and inner city issues to address development in both creative and proven ways," said Mick Fleming, ACCE President.
Download: The Ford Foundation Regionalism and Sustainable Development Brochure & Application 
ACCE is currently accepting applications for the program. Completed applications must arrive at ACCE no later than March 31, 2008. Applicants will be notified of their status by mid-April.
The Fellowship will provide hands-on training, peer knowledge exchange, research, and examination of working models covering a wide range of growth and sustainability issues, including: infrastructure, immigration, land use, housing, education, environment, minority inclusion, and inner city challenges. It will immerse current and future business organization leaders in integrated growth strategies and the impacts of regionalism on neighborhoods and districts—i.e. aging suburbs, inner cities, ex-urban towns, metro villages, distant bedroom developments and, of course, downtowns.
At the conclusion of the program, new findings and additional best practice lessons developed by the Fellows will be incorporated into the policy-practice library of resources offered through the Alliance for Regional Stewardship.
Participants are asked to invest a net amount of $750 in the program. Initial enrollment fee is $1,500, with $750 of that amount to be refunded upon successful completion of the Fellowship program. Travel, lodging, most meals, materials, faculty expenses, program development and all other costs (approx. $10,000 per person) are covered by the Ford Foundation’s investment. Once enrolled, Fellows will be expected to complete the program. Seats may not be transferred to other individuals.
For more information, contact Lisa Itamura by calling 1-800-394-2223.
Source: ACCE
Publication Date: February 20, 2008