The Institute for Community and Regional Development (ICARD) was a public service unit of Eastern Michigan University, dissolved in 2005, whose purpose was to make the expertise and capabilities of the University available to governments, community agencies and businesses. It was part of an overall effort by Eastern to establish a closer working relationship with the communities it served and to aid them in meeting their needs and problem solving. Dr. David Crary was the director for at ten years, until 1994 when he returned to the faculty in the Economics Department. His work with ICARD included conducting its regular forecasts of economic growth in the southeast Michigan region and pursuing special projects. Dr. Crary's economic forecasts for the southeast Michigan region were regularly published in conjunction with ICARD'S newsletters and special reports. Through ICARD, the University could provide expertise and resources in assessment of problems and needs as well as the development of solutions on a wide variety of settings. Project areas included, but were not limited to, economic forecasting, environmental impact assessment and regulations, field testing, training materials and programs, wetlands and coastal management, and zoning ordinance development and evaluation.