Middlesborough Getting Ready for Better Block on May 10!

The block on Cumberland Ave between 20th and 21st where Better Block will be held. Credit: DDM.

Outside the Exploration
Center at 129 South 20th St.

Middlesborough is building on its reputation as the DIY capitol of Eastern Kentucky with another Better Block event this weekend. The community held another event like this in their historic downtown last October. Over 100 volunteers from 15 states descended on the downtown to carry out low-cost temporary interventions to demonstrate the potential for long-term change. A theater that had been closed for over 30 years was reopened. A vacant storefront was transformed into the Exploration Center - a place where kids are encouraged to creatively play. And entrepreneurs were given a chance to share their products as mobile vendors, through pop-up shops, and even a pop-up cafe.

Over the past six months organizers have reflected on this experience and selected a series of new interventions to bring another block to life. One of these, the Makers Market, was started in another vacant storefront in April.  The Market provides an opportunity for local artists, craftspeople, musicians, and food producers to demonstrate their skills and showcase their products. The project addresses the long-term goal of developing the local economy through the creation of small cultural businesses that can revitalize the downtown area.

Here are three ways that you can get involved in this exciting event:

1. Volunteer to take a part in Better Block. The pre-build will be taking place throughout the week and the big event is this Saturday. Please fill out this easy form here or send us a note at downtownmiddlesboro(at)gmail.com. We'll connect you with the right people and resources. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J5QRH5G
2. Make a contribution. Our Makers Market still has about $6,000 that it needs to raise. Make a contribution via power2give.org and your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Humana Foundation. https://power2give.org/go/p/2890
3. Show your pride for Middlesborough and vote for the Elks Home and the Makers Market in the My Old Kentucky Home contest. http://woobox.com/h4r4qg/vote/for/2444612

Other interventions that will be highlighted in downtown Middlesborough this coming week are pop-up parks, a guerrilla historical registry, and a pop-up cafe in the Makers Market space at 2008 Cumberland Ave. The full project planning document is available to view on the Discover Downtown Middlesboro website here: http://downtownmiddlesboro.org/betterblock.htm.

The Makers Market has already become a popular downtown destination. Credit: DDM.

Organization Chair Kristy Bay in the alley on Cumberland Ave where a pop-up park will be born. Credit: DDM.

Photographer Harold Jerrell is one of the may local makers who has participated in the Makers Market. Credit: DDM.

Special Guests

• Della Rucker, Wise Economy Workshop and author of The Local Economy Revolution (Cincinnati, OH)
• Bill Lutz, Community Development Director (Piqua, OH)
• Kitty Dougoud, Kentucky Heritage Council, Kentucky Main Street Director (Frankfort)
• Jen Williamson, Kentucky Heritage Council, Preservation Architect (Frankfort)
• Vicki Birenberg, Kentucky Heritage Council, Certified Local Government Program (Frankfort)
• Jimmy Piper, Architect, GRW (Lexington)
• Jon Rollins, GRW (Lexington)
• Angela Capporelli, Kentucky Department of Agriculture (Frankfort)
• Joe Bird, Chapman Technical Group (Huntington, WV)
• Rob Dinsmore, Chapman Technical Group (Huntington, WV)
• Rodney Wolfenbarger, Brushy Fork Institute, Berea College (Berea)

Kentucky Main Street Program

• Denise Wainscott, Barbourville Tourism/Main Street (Barbourville)
• Bobbie and Earl Gothard, Tri-Cities Heritage (Cumberland)
• Jincy Bailey, Salyersville Renaissance (Salyersville)

Community Members

• Kristy Bay
• Jay Shoffner
• Kelly Shoffner
• Melissa Evans
• Sierra Evans
• Isaac Kremer
• Chrissy Kremer
• Evan Harrell
• Blake Bowling
• Steven Sharp
• Emily Sharp
• Adam Bowling 
• Becky Bowling 
• Tara Pope
• Aaron Fraustro
• Donna Smith
• Vicki Byrne
• Charlene Rucker
• and more...

The Makers Market project was funded by an Appalachian Regional Commission Flex-E-Grant through the Kentucky Department for Local Government and administered by the Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College. Flex-E-Grant funds are made available to distressed ARC counties in Kentucky for projects that are designed to build capacity in these communities.