TEXARKANA - Dr. Charles Blankenship, president of the Main Street Texarkana Executive Board, is stepping down.
The announcement came Tuesday at the organization's first meeting of the year.
Though leaving his post, Blankenship told the Board he would, "remain involved in efforts developing downtown."
With eyes towards the new year, Ina McDowell, executive director, said Main Street Texarkana is hitting the ground running.
"This year, Main Street Texarkana marks its 15th year in advocating for downtown preservation and development," she said. "We may do something officially with that. Stay tuned."
McDowell reported on several developments related to downtown.
"There may be an expansion of the Trade Days we do there monthly," she said, adding that consultations are going on with local real estate developer, David Peavy, owner of the 1894 City Market, near where much of Trade Days is situated.
McDowell said there was positive activity downtown in 2020, in spite of the wide pall cast by the pandemic.
"Not only did we not lose any (businesses), that I am aware of," she said. "But several more opened up in the fall and are gearing up to open this year. Online and carry-out business helped them make it through the hard parts."
The Beauty BARR, is expanding its operations, McDowell said, and Main Street will help it pay for new signage.
"The Flying Crow will get a new larger sign as well," she said. "We will be covering half the cost."