Registration Now Open: Spring Community Planning Institute, March 19–20, 2026
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has opened registration for its Spring 2026 Community Planning Institute (CPI), scheduled for March 19–20, 2026, in Brunswick, Georgia. DCA is asking Regional Commissions to help share this opportunity with local governments across the state.
Hosted in partnership with the Georgia Planning Association (GPA), CPI is a highly regarded, 1.5-day intensive training designed for professionals who need high-quality instruction without extended time away from their communities.
Why Attend the Community Planning Institute?
For more than 21 years, CPI has supported Georgia’s communities by equipping local leaders with practical planning tools and real-world examples. The Spring 2026 institute continues this tradition by combining expert instruction, peer learning, and on-the-ground project exposure.
At $300 per attendee, CPI offers one of the best values for local government training in Georgia, pairing:
- High-quality planning resources
- Exposure to transformative housing and downtown development projects
- A compressed, efficient agenda tailored for busy local officials
Who Should Attend?
This training is ideal for:
- Planning commissioners
- Elected officials
- City and county staff
- Regional commission staff
- Local government professionals involved in planning, housing, and community development
Topics Covered
Participants can expect sessions focused on:
- Comprehensive planning fundamentals
- Affordable housing strategies, including combating NIMBYism
- Using CDBG funds to implement local plans
- Downtown revitalization approaches
- Success stories from communities across Georgia
- A housing tour of a Rural Workforce Housing Grantee
- And more
Location & Lodging
The institute will be held in Brunswick, Georgia. DCA has secured a discounted group rate of $139 per night at the DoubleTree by Hilton Brunswick (138 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525).
Hotel booking information will be provided after registration.
Registration & Scholarships
Local governments are encouraged to register early. Full details and registration are available on DCA’s Community Planning Institute webpage:
👉 Community Planning Institute Information & Registration
Attendees may also be eligible for scholarship support through the Denise Abboud Memorial Fund via the Georgia Planning Memorial Foundation. Additional information is available through the Georgia Planning Association.
