Connecticut’s Best Practices in Economic Development & Land Use Planning

CEDAS Best Practices in Economic Development & Land Use Certification Program

This program is intended to drive communities to pursue excellence in land use and economic development practices and to recognize the communities that have established best practices. In pursuit of these best practices, planners and economic developers can use this program to engage community stakeholders in discussions about how to achieve higher standards and develop creative, community-specific ways to implement them.

The 2024 application period has now closed. 

The Best Practices Certification Program requires an application to be completed documenting various economic development and land use practices, policies, and programs taking place at the local level. The application contains four components:

  1. Communications & Marketing
  2. Coordination & Collaboration
  3. Organizational Capacity & Strategy
  4. Policies & Programs

CEDAS created the Best Practices Certification Program to:

  • encourage best practices in municipal economic development and land use to spur continuous improvement; and
  • to create an open resource library of model development examples that can be used by municipalities to update their policies and practices.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE ONLINE APPLICATION

2024 Best Practices Schedule

April 15, 2024
Application period open
April 25, 2024 Zoom Application Information Session – Register Here
May 23, 2024 Zoom Application Information Session – Register Here
June 30, 2024 Application Period closes
July 1 to August 15, 2024 Review of Applications, Selection of 2024 Certified Municipalities
August 26, 2024 Email of awarded position
October 23, 2024 CEDAS Best Practices Awards Presentation (@ Windham Golf Course) – Register Here

2022 Recipients

GOLD AWARD

  • Town of Cheshire
  • City of Norwalk
  • Town of Orange

SILVER AWARD

  • Town of Ellington
  • Town of Guilford
  • Town of Hamden
  • Town of North Branford
  • City of Torrington
  • City of West Haven
  • Town of Willington
  • Town of Woodbridge

BRONZE AWARD

  • Town of Berlin

2023 Recipients

GOLD AWARD

  • Town of Bolton
  • Town of Madison
  • Town of Windsor
  • Town of Groton
  • Town of West Hartford
  • Town of Fairfield
  • City of Groton

SILVER AWARD

  • Town of Canton
  • City of Hartford
  • Town of Ridgefield
  • Town of Tolland
  • City of Bridgeport
  • Town of East Windsor
  • Town of Monroe
  • City of New London

BRONZE AWARD

  • City of Stamford
  • City of Norwich

Thanks to the 2024 Best Practices Sponsors!

Program Sponsors

QUESTIONS?

Questions regarding the program should be directed to the program development committee chair Thomas Madden, AICP at t.madden@bfjplanning.com.