Chris Hill, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, has successfully completed Year One of the 39th annual Community Development Institute (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas.
CDI equips community leaders and economic development professionals with the tools to build stronger, more resilient communities. Through intensive, hands-on training, participants learn to identify local assets, set strategic goals, foster collaboration, and address economic and quality-of-life challenges.
The program spans three years, with one week of immersive training each year. Participants advance in cohorts and return home with practical strategies ready to implement.
Crystal Johnson, Chamber CEO, and Jamie Rayford, Chief Strategy Officer, are both CDI graduates. Johnson praised Hill’s participation, saying, “We’ve seen firsthand how CDI equips leaders with practical tools that make a real difference. Chris’s creativity and dedication already elevate our work every day. I’m excited to see how he’ll use this training to tell our community’s story in even more powerful ways.”
Hill attended thanks to a scholarship from Citizens Bank, a long-time supporter of leadership development in the region. “We’re grateful to Citizens Bank for investing in the next generation of local leaders,” added Johnson.
Founded in 1987 at UCA in partnership with Entergy, the CDI program has expanded nationwide and is governed by the Community Development Council.
Learn more at uca.edu/cdi.
