About Community Development
Purdue Extension Community Development has a long history of serving Indiana communities and beyond. Beginning with the work of Extension specialists in the Department of Agricultural Economics in the 1950s and the addition of Extension educators in the 1970s, our program area has grown into a thriving team of Extension professionals based in counties, regional offices, and on the Purdue University campus.
Purdue Extension Community Development offers educational programming and conducts applied research in four Thematic Areas. To deepen the impact of our work, we partner with our sister Extension program areas, academic departments at Purdue University, university centers (Purdue Center for Regional Development and the Purdue Institute for Family Business, for example), and numerous external partners.
Contact Us
Mailing Address
615 Mitch Daniels- AGAD 219
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Phone (765) 496-3425
Purdue Extension Community Development is a state chapter of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP). As Community Development Extension professionals, we are committed to strengthening communities through evidence-based programs and collaborative partnerships, which support our mission to: "strengthen the capacity of local leaders, residents, businesses, and organizations to build resilient, vibrant, and sustainable communities through research-based resources and processes."
Additionally, we respect the Community Development Society's Principles of Good Practice to guide our professional work. We also recognize the American Planning Association's American Institute of Certified Planners Code of Ethics to define the principles and practices for community planning processes.
As Community Development Extension professionals, we strive to actively demonstrate these principles and practices in our interactions with colleagues and partner communities.
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