Main Street exec earns development certification

 Ina McDowell, executive director of Main Street Texarkana, speaks during a meeting of the Joint Texarkana Community Committee on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, at the offices of Ark-Tex Council of Governments in Texarkana, Texas. The meeting's theme was local treasures and McDowell spoke about downtown revitalization.
Ina McDowell, executive director of Main Street Texarkana, speaks during a meeting of the Joint Texarkana Community Committee on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, at the offices of Ark-Tex Council of Governments in Texarkana, Texas. The meeting's theme was local treasures and McDowell spoke about downtown revitalization.

CONWAY, Ark. - Ina McDowell, executive director of Main Street Texarkana, was among 45 awarded graduation certificates during the 33rd annual Community Development Institute, Aug. 2 at the University of Central Arkansas.

McDowell completed all three years of CDI's program of study, according to a Main Street news release. CDI teaches community leaders and economic development professionals how to strengthen their local economies and build communities.

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.

Lessons focus on identifying community assets; setting goals; encouraging collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders; and bringing communities, organizations and businesses together to respond to a broad range of economic and quality-of-life issues.

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

Main Street Texarkana advocates for economic development through historic preservation. Main Street sponsors the annual Dine on the Line fundraiser, as well as the downtown Christmas parade.

For more information online, visit CDI at uca.edu/cdi or Main Street Texarkana at MainstreetTexarkana.org. Email Main Street at [email protected].

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