Each community is assigned a resource team to develop a tailored plan of action for the future. Communities are certified as they begin taking integral steps toward achieving their own goals and objectives. To enforce the importance of continual improvement, resource team members make a follow-up visit to each community after certification to check the community's progress and offer additional assistance if needed. Individual municipalities, neighboring cities who wish to apply jointly, counties and multi-county regions are all eligible for the program. Communities who wish to participate in the Certified Community Partnership Program must be committed to the process of change because change is inevitable as communities move through the process.
Certification is only the beginning.
The process begins with the community assessment application. They must be dedicated leaders committed to the long-term process of preparing their community for the future. This committee will set the tone for the entire process. Once a community enters the program, they receive the community assessment form. This document helps communities identify their strengths and weaknesses in the areas of leadership, planning, and commitment as well as providing them the opportunity to clarify their vision for the future.