The overall goal of the Salem County Leadership and Capacity Building Institute is to prepare a diverse cadre of Salem County leaders to work collaboratively in establishing partnerships to build stronger communities and under-served areas in the County. The focus of this initiative is on building local community leadership as it relates to the socio-economic needs and challenges facing the Salem County region. The program has been designed to prepare regional leaders with the necessary competencies and skills to work cooperatively and collaboratively so that they can effectively form strategic alliances that will foster community development and economic growth in the region.

The curriculum for this Institute focuses on leadership development, including skills in collaborative decision-making, team building, and conflict resolution in order to prepare leaders to assume new roles and responsibilities in their cities and communities. The Institute targets a diverse group of leaders that includes the private, public and non-profit sectors, and higher education. This kind of approach allows for the development of alliances around common issues of interest.