Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Penny Broussard has been named the C.I.T.Y. Program’s Citizen of the Year for 2009.

“I know there are many other people out there who deserve this honor,” Broussard said at a gathering of other citizen of the year on Monday.

Curtis Smith, a former recipient, said Broussard certainly deserved the honor for the work she has done not only for the C.I.T.Y. program but for many other organizations throughout the county.

“Those who have received the recognition in the past make up the selection committee,” Smith said, “and they all agree we have made a good choice this year.”

The C.I.T.Y program began in 1994 with help from a bill sponsored in the Alabama Legislature by then representative Smith. The organization, designed to help at risk students remain in school to graduate, began honoring county residents for their work with the program three years later. Former Citizens of the Year include Smith, Bill Speaks, Red Turnipseed, Cecil Woodham, Bobby Martin, Rhonda Hardesty, Jimmy Harrison Jr., Richard Moore, Billy Joe Driver, Peggy Marcus and Emma Frank Bowers.

The program will hold a banquet to recognize Brossard on October 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Alabama Power Company’s Auditorium on Highway 31 South in Clanton. Tickets for the banquet are $10 each and can be purchased from any C.I.T.Y. Board member.

A resident of Thorsby, Broussard has or does serve on the United Way Board of Directors, the C.I.T.Y. Program Board, the PEECH Board, Jefferson State Community College Strategic Planning Committee, Workforce Development Council for Region 4, Existing Business Team with the Birmingham Business Alliance, Chilton County Food Innovation Center Board, Arthritis Walk Committee, Chilton County Schools Counselor Advisory Team, Alabama Cooperative Extension System Advisory Board, Regional Council of Chambers, Chilton County DHR JOBS Task Force and others.