Steve Harris, President/CEO of Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation and Anna Powell, Executive Director Institutional Advancement UAHT, were among the 32 individuals who were awarded graduation certificates during the 35th Annual Community Development Institute - Central (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas on August 6, 2021. Harris and Powell completed all three years of the institute’s program of study and is now qualified to sit for the Professional Community and Economic Developer exam.

CDI trains community leaders and economic development professionals on how to strengthen their local economies and build communities. This is achieved by developing the ability of participants to identify community assets, set goals, encourage collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders, and bring communities, organizations and businesses together to respond to a broad range of economic and quality of life issues.

The complete institute experience is a three-year program with one week of training per year. Participants move through the program curriculum in cohorts, and are exposed to a comprehensive, applied approach to the field of community and economic development.

UCA is the birthplace for the Community Development Institute, which started in 1987 in partnership with Entergy, Southwestern Bell, and ARKLA.  Since that time, CDIs have been established in Texas, Alabama, Idaho, and Illinois, and a national governing and certification body, the Community Development Council, has been created.

A special thanks goes out to Dansons and Bruce Boulton, Hope Plant Manager, for donating a Pit Boss Grill for the CDI Charity Auction.

More information about CDI can be found at www.uca.edu/cdi.