A call for abstracts is invited on the topic of Measuring Community and Economic Development Outcomes (Special Issue of Community Development: Journal of the CDS).

Federal and state governments, private organizations, foundations, and many other agencies with major investments in community and economic development have a growing interest in measuring outcomes from community and economic development efforts. Past evaluations have often relied mainly on employment and investment changes to measure outcomes. However, local development agencies recognize that these programs affect many groups throughout a community, and it is important to recognize and document other ways in which communities have changed. Jobs and private investment, while important, are not sufficient to evaluate community and/or economic development.  Moreover, systemic changes that can lead to higher employment and per capita income rates often take  years to show up in commonly used indicators. For example, the Community Capitals literature has recently been used by agencies to monitor changes in each capital.