Augustana Hilltop Community Development Corporation

Jerry Lack • Executive Director
639 38th Street - Rock Island, IL 61201
(309) 781-3198
augustanahilltopcdc@aol.com

Welcome

Augustana Hilltop Community Development Corporation: About Our Organization

Established in 2025, The Augustana Hilltop Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a nonprofit organization focused on revitalizing Rock Island’s Hilltop neighborhood through partnerships, investment and community engagement. Augustana College, the City of Rock Island, local businesses and community members will work in collaboration to create conditions for long-term neighborhood growth and wellbeing.

The Hilltop CDC is leading a partnership that will work together to spur efforts to create a more vibrant, walkable and economically dynamic neighborhood that serves both Rock Island residents and Augustana students.

The multifaceted CDC initiative is not only focused on sparking community development, but also promoting sound environmental practices, public infrastructure improvements and neighborhood events by way of public gatherings, markets, property clean-up and other volunteer activities.

The CDC will work to strengthen what’s already strong, invest in what’s possible, and shape a Hilltop that reflects the hopes and efforts of the people who live, work, study and play in the neighborhood community.

The Augustana Hilltop Community Development Corporation board of directors is comprised of 11 members from Augustana College and representatives of the City of Rock Island.

The CDC was formed as a goal of Augustana College’s Bold and Boundless Strategic Plan, aligning with Augustana’s commitment to connecting through partnerships and enhancing neighborhood vitality.

Our Mission

To strengthen the Hilltop neighborhood community by fostering community engagement, business development, increasing housing opportunities, and supporting a thriving neighborhood for residents and Augustana students and faculty.

The Hilltop Neighborhood

The Hilltop neighborhood – just steps from the Augustana campus – is a resilient, historic and evolving part of Rock Island. Its businesses, families, and community spaces form a vital part of the city’s identity.