WARWICK, R.I. — The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today announced the launch of its new associate in arts in Community Planning and certificate in Community Planning, beginning in Fall 2026. These programs were developed in direct response to the statewide need for trained planning professionals to support Rhode Island’s goals for increased housing production, sustainable development, and long-term community resilience.

The programs build on the findings of the Special Legislative Commission convened in 2024 by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi to study the shortage of planning professionals in Rhode Island. CCRI served as a member of the Commission, working alongside legislative leaders, municipal officials, and state planning experts to identify the specific workforce gaps limiting local capacity. The Commission’s final report revealed that more than 60% of Rhode Island municipalities operate with planning departments of two or fewer staff, and many positions remain unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants, thereby hindering the state’s progress toward expanding housing, streamlining development processes, and supporting community growth.

Following its work on the Commission, CCRI convened a Community Planning Advisory Board consisting of planning directors, zoning administrators, GIS professionals, and representatives from state and municipal agencies. This advisory board played an essential role in shaping both the degree and certificate curriculum to ensure alignment with real-world needs, employer expectations, and the competencies defined by the American Planning Association.

“CCRI’s strength lies in our ability to move quickly by listening to our partners, understanding labor market needs, and building high-quality programs that prepare Rhode Islanders for meaningful careers,” said Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN, President of CCRI. “These new programs reflect our commitment to working collaboratively with state leaders, municipal leaders, and planning experts to design pathways that meet real workforce demands and support the state’s long-term housing, economic development, and community resilience goals.”

About the Programs

The associate in arts (A.A.) in Community Planning is a two-year degree that provides students with a comprehensive foundation in community planning, including zoning and land use regulations, site plan review, sustainable development, state and local government, research methods, communication strategies, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Students will also participate in experiential learning through internships, cooperative work experiences, and project-based learning with municipal and regional planning partners. The A.A. prepares graduates for immediate employment as Planning Technician.

The18-credit certificate also prepares students for entry-level roles as Planning Technicians in municipal, regional, and state agencies, as well as private planning and development firms.  The certificate is ideal for current municipal staff looking to upskill. Courses emphasize zoning administration, site plan review, parcel description analysis, development application processing, and regulatory documentation. Certificate students have access to internship and experiential learning opportunities and may seamlessly apply all credits toward the A.A. in Community Planning.

Both programs incorporate robust hands-on learning through internships with municipal planning departments, state agencies, and private-sector planning organizations, cooperative work placements embedded into the curriculum, and applied planning and GIS projects using real-world data and development scenarios. These experiential components ensure graduates are job-ready and able to contribute to planning offices immediately upon completion.

RI League of Cities and Towns recognizes the new programs for their ability to build a strong talent pipeline. “Rhode Island’s cities and towns are committed to responsible planning, thoughtful zoning and smart growth that strengthens our communities for the long term. But too often our local planning departments are operating with only one or two staff members making it difficult to keep pace with housing demand and development opportunities. CCRI’s new community planning degree and certificate programs represent a meaningful step forward in building the workforce pipeline our municipalities urgently need,” said Randy R. Rossi, Executive Director, RI League of Cities and Towns.

Susan Mara, the President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Planning Association, agrees.

“Rhode Island needs a strong, well prepared planning workforce, and CCRI’s new Community Planning program will help to address that need," Mara said. "The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Planning Association is proud to support this effort to build a homegrown pipeline of planning professionals who can help advance our shared goals for housing, sustainability, and vibrant, resilient communities.”

Graduates will be prepared for a range of high-demand roles that support essential municipal and statewide priorities related to housing, land use, transportation, sustainability, and economic development. Career pathways include:

• Planning Technician
• Zoning/Land Use Technician
• Code Enforcement Technician
• Development Review Assistant
• GIS Assistant or Mapping Technician
• Planning Office Administrative and Regulatory Support Roles

“The Community Planning A.A. and certificate represent Rhode Island’s first academic programs dedicated to building a homegrown pipeline of planning talent," said Professor Matthew Ulricksen, who served on the legislative committee and led the work at CCRI to build the programs. "By serving on the legislative commission, establishing a statewide advisory board, and collaborating with municipal leaders, CCRI has created an educational solution that directly addresses the pressing public needs identified by the state."