“Community development facilitates economic development,” is the mantra of the University of Central Arkansas Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED). CCED’s role within the university is to make positive impacts by bringing UCA resources and communities together. The team achieves this mission through offering training and technical assistance services to community leaders.
Community and economic development are mission-critical to the role of higher education. At UCA, this commitment takes shape through workforce development, innovation driven by research and service-learning, support for business and industry, entrepreneurial empowerment and lifelong learning opportunities beyond traditional degree programs. UCA CCED acts as a key connector between campus and communities statewide, helping create places where future Bears, current students and alumni can “live, work, and play.”
While CCED’s work is offered statewide, in 2023 the team recognized the need for community and economic development support focused specifically in Northwest Arkansas. This need is sparked by the region’s rapid growth, which creates challenges in housing, affordability, transportation, infrastructure and meeting quality-of-life expectations. CCED’s 40 years of expertise make it uniquely qualified to support communities and their leaders in addressing these challenges.
With the support of the Walton Family Foundation, the Community Development Pipeline program was born. The three-year Pipeline program trains community leaders in Washington and Benton counties on foundational community and economic development principles, positively impacts and uplifts the economies and quality of life of communities, and develops new relationships that build bridges across Arkansas communities.
When the first three-year program launched, 25 community leaders were selected to participate. These leaders represented the full spectrum of the community and economic development field: government, business, the arts, healthcare, education and nonprofit work. By the conclusion of the program in December 2025, 22 of those leaders successfully completed the program and graduated from the UCA Community Development Institute (CDI).
“The Pipeline program opens your eyes to programs and resources you may not have known about. That is important because our region is growing so fast,” shared cohort member Trish Ouei ’99, director of public affairs for the Beaver Water District. “As members of the cohort, we may all run in the same circles and see each other at various events, but that doesn’t mean we get time to sit down and really listen to each other. The program provides space for deeper regional connections.”
“The Community Development Pipeline Program is more than an educational opportunity—it is an economic catalyst.”
CCED led more than 50 unique technical assistance projects over the three-year period, including economic development action plans in Pea Ridge and Elkins; walk audits in Prairie Grove, Springdale and Pea Ridge; community branding initiatives in Centerton, Elkins and Pea Ridge; poverty simulations supporting youth leaders in Fayetteville, Washington County and health professionals in Springdale schools; skills-based development workshops and more. In total, more than 2,500 residents of Northwest Arkansas were directly engaged in Pipeline assistance programs.
According to cohort member and Mayor of Prairie Grove David Faulk, “This program is a massive advantage for our small city. The knowledge and network that we have access to are priceless. As a first-term mayor of a small but growing city within Northwest Arkansas, I cannot speak enough about the assistance I have received through this program.”
The Community Development Pipeline Program is more than an educational opportunity — it is an economic catalyst. For leaders ready to build strong and resilient communities, the Pipeline program is an invaluable resource that connects UCA to Northwest Arkansas. To continue this important work, the CCED launched the Community Development Pipeline 2.0 program in January 2026, supporting a new cohort of 25 leaders.
Learn more about the Pipeline program at uca.edu/cced/cd-pipeline-program.