DDM Announces 5-Year Vision for Downtown Middlesborough

Middlesborough, Kentucky - After an intensive seven-month community planning process, Discover Downtown Middlesboro announced their plan today for Downtown Middlesborough. The announcement was made as the culminating statement of the innovative Better Block Middlesborough project that put many of the strategic planning initiatives into practice.

The following 5-year vision for the downtown was announced:

"Beautifully restored historic buildings and clean and attractive public spaces have made Downtown Middlesborough a leading regional and statewide attraction.  A world class hiking, biking, and horse trail system draws people downtown and connects with Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.  A wide variety of shops and restaurants provide daily necessities and a quick and inexpensive meal, to higher-end goods, services, and fine dining all at locally-owned businesses. People travel from miles around to be part of the fun and excitement downtown has to provide."

Among the concrete actions that DDM will take to realize this vision are to create 1,000 jobs; establish a Bell County Endowed Community Fund to encourage community philanthropy and provide support for community revitalization and economic development. Restoration of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Home and other buildings throughout the downtown will be undertaken. New staff and volunteers will be added to take responsibility of initiatives and to help move the revitalization effort forward.

To read the plan in its entirety, please visit the DDM website and go to the Planning section. The link follows:
http://downtownmiddlesboro.org/planning.htm.

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