Downtown Walk Around Assessment
On August 3, 2026, the City of Inwood welcomed Jim Engle, Director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, and Jim Thompson, Downtown Economic Development Specialist, for a Downtown Walk Around assessment. During their visit, Engle and Thompson toured Inwood’s downtown area with city officials, business owners, and community members to identify existing strengths and opportunities for future improvement.
The assessment highlighted many of the qualities that make Inwood a strong and vibrant community, including community pride, active local organizations, engaged leadership, community amenities, annual events, historic downtown architecture, and recent investment in local businesses. The resulting report provides 10 ideas to enhance downtown Inwood, with recommendations involving signage, streetscape improvements, downtown buildings, community events, volunteer involvement, and other opportunities for continued downtown development.
Inwood deputy clerk Travis Mullinix (left) and mayor Becca Bixler (middle) talk with Jim Thompson (right), economic development strategist of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center. Representatives from the organization spent the day reviewing what works and what could be changed to improve Inwood’s downtown.
Photo/Tristan Taylor
Discussing the City
Inwood city council member Laurel Reinke (left) and Iowa Downtown Resource Center director Jim Engle (right) talk outside of Security Savings Bank during a downtown walk around event. Engle and business partner Jim Thompson spent the day reviewing what could be done to improve Inwood’s downtown.
Photo/Tristan Taylor
Improving Downtown