The Ford Foundation
Regionalism and Sustainable Development (RSD) Fellowship Program

With the generous support of the Ford Foundation, ACCE is again offering chamber and regional leaders an opportunity to engage in the Regionalism and Sustainable Development (RSD) Fellowship program.  This unique and exclusive 13-month program will instill a deeper understanding of regional thinking, strategies and opportunities that will help Fellows grow and develop competitive economies and communities.  With the assistance of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship, the Citistates Group and the FutureWorks research firm, ACCE is providing this educational program to chamber and business leaders of today and tomorrow.

The Fellowship will provide hands-on training, peer knowledge exchange, research and examination of working models on a wide-range of sustainability issues, such as:

• Infrastructure;
• Land use;
• Environmental stewardship;
• Housing;
• Minority inclusion;
• Workforce development;
• Education;
• Immigration; and
• Inner-city challenges.

Fellows will become part of a cadre of influential leaders who are ready to apply their knowledge to make their own regions more prosperous, vital and inclusive.  The growing cadre will, in turn, reinforce the national and global movement benefiting regional economies everywhere.  Fellows will receive appropriate recognition, certificates and professional development credit.

Program format and schedule

Each cohort group will meet for three in-person, symposium-style sessions taught by carefully selected scholars and professional practitioners.  In addition, Fellows will prepare and implement individual regional action plans targeting their service area.  Between meetings, Fellows will remain engaged with readings, DIALogue webinars, and one-on-one coaching and guidance to help with their regional action plans.  At the conclusion of the program, new findings and additional best practice lessons will be incorporated into the policy-practice library of resources offered through the Alliance for Regional Stewardship. 

The tentative schedule for the program is:

Cohort 1:

Begin study	May 2008
First meeting	June 18-20, 2008
Second meeting	Nov. 19-21, 2008
Third meeting	Mar. 11-13, 2009
Graduation	Spring 2009

Cohort 2:

Begin study	Aug 2008
First meeting	Sept. 17-19, 2008
Second meeting	Jan. 14-16, 2009
Third meeting	May 13-15, 2009
Graduation	Summer 2009

Cohort 3:

Begin study	Sept. 2008
First meeting	Oct. 15-17, 2008
Second meeting	Feb. 11-13, 2009
Third meeting	June 15-17, 2009
Graduation	Fall 2009

Locations and exact meeting dates and times will be provided to accepted Fellows well in advance of each meeting.

Becoming a Fellow

There will be up to 50 spots available to interested candidates, ideally divided into three cohort groups.  Note: based on the preferences of accepted Fellows, ACCE may adjust the size and timing of the cohort groups, creating two rather than three groupings.  Cohort groups will be composed to ensure optimal knowledge exchange and networking based on geographic, demographic and organizational diversity.

ACCE mailed out brochures with applications to top chamber executives in mid-February.  The brochure and application may also be downloaded from the ACCE website .  Applicants must include a 1,500 word Statement of Purpose with their completed application.  These are due to ACCE by March 31, 2008.  Accepted Fellows will be notified in mid-April. 

Once accepted, an enrollment fee of $1,500 is required, $750 of which will be refunded to the Fellow upon successful completion of the program.  Travel, lodging, most meals, course materials, faculty expenses, program development and most other costs (approximately $10,000 per person) are covered by the Ford Foundation investment.

For more information

To learn more about this program or the application process, please contact Lisa Itamura at 703-998-3522.