History of Polk County Developmental Center:

Dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities for over 50 years, Polk County Developmental Center, Inc. is located in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains.

A group of concerned parents and citizens of Polk County, Arkansas organized PCDC in 1972.  Services were initially provided in Mena First Baptist Church. In 1976, funds were secured from private and state organizations to build a 3,500 square foot building on donated land in Mena. Adult and preschool services began in late 1976 followed by physical therapy services in 1982. Initial numbers were 17 adult clients, 5 preschool children and 7 employees.

In 1985, the PCDC Resale Store was added to provide work-training skills for adult clients. The Resale Store was initially located on Sherwood Avenue for a few months. It was deemed necessary to locate to a facility to house the donations of used merchandise. The Store was next located on Highway 71 South and Reine Street. It was there for approximately four years.

In 1986 it was decided to expand through building a residential facility for developmentally disabled women. Funding was secured for construction for AVANTS Group Living Center, Inc. through Housing and Urban Development. A nine-bedroom Group Home was completed in late 1986. The Polk County Developmental Center is the management agent for the group home.

In 1990 The Polk County Developmental Center purchased property on Morrow Avenue and remodeled the old skate barn into The Polk County Developmental Center Resale Store. The building was remodeled again in 2004 to expand the sales area and client work area and to add administrative offices.

In 1999 the Adult Work Center was built on Morrow Avenue next to the Resale Store. All adult services moved from the Amsterdam location. The Work Center houses adult education classrooms as well as the Recycling Center. In 2009, The Polk County Developmental Center purchased an additional building on Eagle Gap. This building was being used to sort donations for the Resale Store.

In 2011 a 4,050 square foot addition was added to the back of the Resale Store to increase staff and client work areas. The sorting of donations was then moved from the Eagle Gap building to the new work area. This addition was made possible through Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality Grant Funds and funds raised by Polk County Developmental Center.

In summer of 2014 Polk County Developmental Center purchased the Education Station building for Jumpstart Daycare.

In winter of 2014 Polk County Developmental Center opened “Just For Kids” Resale store located at 811 Eagle Gap.

In November of 2021, the Adult Wellness program moved into the former Mena Manor building located at 100 9th Street. This new location provides a lot more room and helps provide greater learning and training opportunities.