Downtown Columbia Partnership Executive Director Wins Fellowship

Downtown Columbia Partnership (DTCP) Executive Director Phillip Dodge has been selected for the 2021 Emerging Leader Fellowship (ELF) program by the International Downtown Association (IDA). The 30 new fellows represent 27 cities in North America.

The Emerging Leader Fellowship is a week-long experiential program bringing together a cohort of IDA professionals from within the urban district management industry. The fellows learn leadership and place management skills and gain practical tools in the areas of place-based economic development, the live-work-play experience, and public-private partnerships, according to David Downey, President and CEO of IDA.

Dodge has been head of the DTCP since 2017. He previously served as Director of the Howard County Food Bank for the Community Action Council of Howard County and also led development and communications efforts for Healthy Howard and the National Center for Healthy Housing. Among his civic work, Dodge serves on the Board of Trustees of the Howard County Library System and the Board of the Bright Minds Foundation and is a graduate of Leadership Howard County.

The ELF program typically takes place each June in New York City. Due to the pandemic, this year’s cohort will receive their instruction over a virtual platform. The group will meet in-person in the spring of 2022, when they will continue learning with professionals from several business improvement district organizations across New York City providing technical in-the-field training.

About the Downtown Columbia Partnership

The Downtown Columbia Partnership was established to market and promote Downtown Columbia and its businesses, implement beautification projects, sponsor cultural arts programs, support transportation and safety initiatives and other activities that enhance the live, work, play environment envisioned for Downtown Columbia in the Downtown Columbia Plan, unanimously adopted by the Howard County Council in 2010.