During a regular meeting on Monday, the Texarkana, Texas City Council approved a series of measures that will impact both the city’s airport and its downtown core, according to the Texarkana Gazette.
The council authorized the Texarkana Regional Airport Authority to sell the former terminal building and associated improvements to Texarkana College for a nominal $10, mirroring a decision made by the Arkansas‑side board the week before. A separate agreement permits the college to lease more than four acres surrounding the building to develop aviation education and workforce‑training programs.
Additional airport actions included a contract with Williams Painting for airport maintenance, approval of the airport’s 2027‑2032 Capital Improvement Plan, and authorization of extra paving within the safety area of one runway.
In downtown business, the council adopted a resolution to improve lighting on West Broad Street. The plan funds the installation of 16 light poles, lamps and overhead string lighting along West Broad between North State Line Avenue and Spruce Street. The project is a partnership among the city, the Texarkana Community Development Corp. and the nonprofit Main Street Texarkana, with anticipated contributions from private donors. The estimated cost is a little more than $225,400, which includes a 20 % contingency; the city will contribute up to $200,000 from its Downtown Enhancement Fund.
The council also approved a $50,000 façade‑improvement loan to Let’s Get Lit TXK LLC, owned by Morgan Major and Morgan Harris, for the property at 218 Main Street. The building will be redeveloped as “House of Light,” a beauty and wellness collective, according to Planning Director Daphnea Ryan. The loan carries a 10‑year term with a 4.9 % interest rate and was unanimously recommended by the city’s loan committee.
These actions aim to bolster local job training, enhance public safety and aesthetics, and support small‑business revitalization in Texarkana’s historic downtown.
What’s next: The City Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14, where further downtown development initiatives may be considered.
Sources: texarkanagazette.com, texarkanagazette.com
