Middlesboro Named Pilot Community of America Saves! Program - 1st Project in Promise Zone to Secure Funding

The Preservation Green Lab of the National Trust for HistoricPreservation and the National Main Street Center celebrated Middlesboro, KY, as one of the first pilot communities to participate in America Saves!. The new program is designed to create and support the economic success of Main Street communities and other small-scale commercial districts by improving building performance and energy efficiency. Supported by a $2 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Energy, America Saves! will drive cost savings and new investment in existing buildings in Main Street communities across the country. 

An accredited Main Street program, Downtown Middlesboro will spearhead the project in its community. Using their relationships and volunteers, they will promote and connect business and building owners to the America Saves! project. Main Street networks support participants as they learn how their facilities use energy and consider options for improving buildings and energy-using building systems. The Main Street networks will identify community partners and organize volunteers to support building information collection efforts in their community. The National Trust is offering small grants to help in the local program rollout efforts. 

DDM Executive Director Isaac Kremer with
Kentucky Highlands Promise Zone
Coordinator Sandi Curd. Credit: DDM.

Discover Downtown Middlesboro President Jay Shoffner said, “We are thrilled to be the first community in Appalachian Kentucky participating in the America Saves! program. This presents a special opportunity to achieve cost savings for businesses in our area and to continue strengthening or local and regional economy. We’re grateful to America Saves!, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and all of our partners for their continued help and support.”

The America Saves! team is comprised of a consortium of national building, preservation, data analysis and energy efficiency experts that  will support communities in their efforts to help local businesses and building owners  save money on their energy bills. Those participating in the program receive energy use information guidance around facility improvements and information on programs and incentives that they can use to implement upgrades.

“National Main Street Center is grateful for the participation of Downtown Middlesboro in America Saves!, and we look forward to our continued work together through the project and beyond,” said Carolyn Dellutri, Senior Director of Programs and Services, National Main Street Center. “This project offers an exciting opportunity for Main Street communities, and we are thrilled to have such an eager pilot community like Middlesboro leading the way.”

"For the first time, we’re able to bring best practices and resources to small businesses and small buildings, and it’s the strength of Main Streets that makes it possible," said Mark Huppert, Senior Director of the National Trust's Preservation Green Lab, which is leading the DOE-funded initiative. “Harvesting energy efficiency from small buildings is like striking oil, except it's local, clean and keeps dollars in our local economies. The savings can produce local investment, including jobs.”

Discover Downtown Middlesboro is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded in 2006. Since that time the organization has worked to spearhead revitalization of the downtown area. In May 2014 Downtown Middlesboro was one of two communities nationally named "Ones to Watch" by the National Main Street Center for innovative projects and being on the cusp of a major transformation.

DDM is in the pre-development phase for the 27,000 square foot Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Home that the organization owns. Presently a development partner is being sought to help bring this vibrant mixed-use project to market.  In 2013 a total of $2.7 million of public and private investment was made downtown. Ten new businesses opened and over 100 jobs were created in 2013.

Bell County is one of eight counties comprising the Kentucky Highland’s Promise Zone.  This designation announced in January by President Barack Obama is the first and only rural Promise Zone in the nation.  Grant applications from Promise Zones to federal agencies receive priority as an investment to create jobs, increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, leverage private investment and reduce violent crime.  To date nearly 30 applications have been submitted to various federal agencies.  Downtown Middlesboro’s “Achieving Energy Savings in Appalachian Kentucky” is the first grant funded under The Promise Zone designation. 

The Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED) supports the America Saves! program in Middlesboro by helping commercial facilities energy audits and affordable energy savings loans to help owners get energy savings sooner.

  

MACED invests in the future of Kentucky’s energy systems to create new economic opportunities, promote environmental health and grow a more diverse energy portfolio in the state. Growing energy efficiency efforts that reduce consumption and save money, along with promoting renewable energy sources such as solar, help build a stronger, more sustainable regional economy.

For more information or to participate in the program, please contact Discover Downtown Middlesboro at (606) 248-6155 or downtownmiddlesboro.org. We’re also on Twitter and Facebook @DDMBoro.

About The National Main Street Center
Established in 1980 as a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Main Street Center works with a nationwide network of communities to encourage preservation-based economic revitalization that utilizes the Main Street Four-Point Approach.® The Center participated in the renewal of more than 2,000 older commercial districts during its 30-year history. Now a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Main Street Center provides information, offers technical assistance, holds conferences and workshops, and conducts research and advocacy on critical preservation and community revitalization issues.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Green Lab

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, through its Preservation Green Lab, strengthens the fabric of communities by leveraging the value of existing buildings to reduce resource waste, create jobs, and bolster a strong sense of community. The Preservation Green Lab is helping cities and community development organizations revitalize their economy and community well-being through various initiatives. The program is a national model for delivering energy efficiency to small businesses and buildings, driving cost savings and new investment in existing buildings.

About MACED

The Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED)creates economic alternatives that work for low-income people and natural places in Kentucky and Central Appalachia. MACED employs three core strategies—community investment, research for policy change and demonstration initiatives. Four paths of work flow directly from these strategies: strengthening the key sectors of energy and forestry; promoting entrepreneurship; influencing Kentucky’s economic policy; and advancing an Appalachian Transition.

Image Links:

http://www.preservationnation.org/assets/photos-images/information-center/sustainable-communities/green-lab/america-saves/AmericaSaves_RGB.png - America Saves! logo

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_sWFgbv_BYjhvhVJ6nE7ZJoq9D-3CdqaLNGnYoNKXmBXlrZBFfkez80IQ0VgTs0mEaadDx2-CAw1cfPS35uIPINuFogjw9oemLob2jFPzUKLkW7GUlnaYFxvisJY1iOGvIxwn67u5QY/s1600/20140821_102200.jpg DDM Executive Director Isaac Kremer with Kentucky Highlands Promise Zone Coordinator Sandi Curd. Credit: DDM.

Historic Real Estate Finance Professional Certification Received from National Development Council

Real Estate Development Finance Professional Certification recently received from the National Development Council. Credit: DDM.

Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director of
Discover Downtown Middlesboro.

On July 28, 2014, Isaac D. Kremer of Discover Downtown Middlesboro received certification as a Historic Real Estate Development Finance Professional (HHDFP) from the National Development Council (NDC). HHDFP Certification is a professional credential given to individuals who successfully complete NDC's intensive historic real estate development finance training series. The training provides individuals working in the field of historic preservation with instruction in real estate finance, problem solving and deal structuring, and the creation and implementation of development programs.

The two HHDFP Certification Program courses were developed in partnership between the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Development Council with generous support from the 1772 Foundation, and are five days in length and concluded with an exam.

The National Development Council was established in 1969 and is a non-profit organization specializing in economic and housing development training and technical assistance for community development. NDC has provided training to over 60,000 professionals working in the fields of economic and housing development. Participants come from diverse governments including city and state governments, public agencies, community-based organizations, professional organizations and banks.

Isaac D. Kremer is Executive Director of Discover Downtown Middlesboro. He received an M.A. in Historic Preservation from Cornell University and a B.A. in Economics and Management from Albion College in Albion, Michigan. He is currently responsible for overseeing a portfolio of $20 million of projects. DDM is in the pre-development phase for the 27,000 square foot Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Home that the organization owns. Presently a development partner is being sought to help bring this vibrant mixed-use project to market.  www.downtownmiddlesboro.org.

Image download:
Certificate - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZBJ4Mdcu56ly7BW5X8O88kyu78gtYzHfCc4abx_sn0pq_IZMbqQ0p42DdIshlE5xLTBIqcfhYJYDW9lRvoli-oiB6DoQ5FEqL7HbsNd_CYDpJ3yPUSZrlll5hoVIieJOzL62qL_N5y0/s1600/20140813_080730.jpg

Kremer - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHIKy2xgylRZaPlMZh8B9TG1gCkjMzag1H_xt6e5CHBYsYXr5lk37QncBMZBLNCH915yWxBlPXddIFsWgZmikW6DilvRRHVuBgejOA_AXM4EtZdiG1eonwQmu9IT_iuoDRzgoKKg_qGw/s1600/20140305_155533b.jpg

What We Learned Attending the National Main Streets Conference in Detroit

When a conference starts with a gospel choir in flowing red robes belting out amazing sounds, that’s a pretty good sign you’re in for something special. That was the scene we saw at the Plenary Session of the National Main Streets conference recently held in Detroit.

Drop dead gorgeous Art Deco skyscrapers in Detroit. Credit: DDM.

If you want to see ground zero of community transformation in the United States and possibly anywhere in the world today – you have to go to Detroit. Beautifully restored buildings downtown, a world-class river walk, and active public spaces are transforming this place for the better.  We had a chance to see some of the crown jewels including the Campus Martius Park downtown and Eastern Market.  There are so many others, really too many to mention, including Midtown, Corktown, Indian Village, and Boston Edison. Detroit’s island park Belle Isle designed by Frederick Law Olmsted is getting rediscovered. Civic gems like the Detroit Opera House, Orchestra Hall, and the Detroit Institute of Arts continue to shine. If there is a city that has faced overwhelming odds and overcome them, few compare with Detroit. And for the city to be coming back strong the way it is today is truly inspiring.

Plenary Session at the National Main Streets Conference in Detroit. Credit: DDM.

The National Main Streets Center has also gone through an exciting transformation of its own. Over the past year the National Main Streets Center successfully spun off as a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. While the Trust stewarded this program for over three decades, the time had come for Main Street to stand on its own. And that it has done. Under the able direction of President and CEO Patrice Frey, Chairperson Barbara Sidway, and their founding Board members – Main Street has a new sense of vitality, energy, and enthusiasm.

The Plenary Session of the conference was a highpoint for me at a number of levels. Our community was one of only two communities recognized nationally as “Ones to Watch” by the National Main Street Center. How unreal it was to see pictures of our community and major projects like the Elks Home go up on the big screen before over a thousand people. Then we got a chance to stand up and get recognized to a sustained and thunderous applause. This was an acknowledgement of the incredible change and transformation that has happened in Middlesboro in just over the past two years.  My only regret is that we couldn’t bring every one of our volunteers, partners, and residents to experience that.

The next morning we had the pleasure to lead a session on “Using Tactical Urbanism to Preserve Downtowns.” We were joined by Mike Lydon from Street Plans Collaborative and Caitlyn Horose with the Orton Family Foundation. These two were instrumental in our first Better Block project back in October 2013. This is when we reopened a theater that had been closed 30 years, opened the children’s Exploration Center in a vacant storefront, and enlisted over 100 volunteers from 17 states to perform tactical interventions downtown. While our session was in the early morning, it was so gratifying to see a nearly filled room and the energy of ideas being shared between people. During that session we announced #BetterMainStreet that is an initiative for downtowns all over the U.S. to carry out tactical interventions the first weekend of October. And nearly everyone in the room agreed to do something.

And as great as Detroit was, you better bet we’re going to Atlanta for the next National Main Streets Conference in 2015. Not just that. We’re going to get a bus, fill it with our Board members and whoever wants to join us, and celebrate the gains our community makes between now and then. This brings us to our biggest takeway. Main Street is more than just about one community working at the local level in isolation – it’s a national movement of people pursuing common sense strategies to make places better all throughout the United States and beyond. In order for this movement to take off, we need people with strength in their convictions and a hunger and thirst for results to show up. So why not join us in Atlanta from March 30-April 2, 2015 to see what this exciting Main Street work is all about?

Stamped Crosswalks Installed at Cumberland and 19th Street in Middlesboro

Stamped and textured crosswalk that just went in on Cumberland Ave at 19th St in downtown Middlesboro. Credit: DDM.

Beautiful crosswalks just went in at 19th and Cumberland in downtown Middlesboro! The idea was first suggested to TOUR Southern and Eastern Kentucky as part of their C.I.T.Y. grant program in March 2010. At the time it was estimated that crosswalks at 19th, 20th, and 21st would cost around $50,000.

Same intersection at 19th and Cumberland as it appeared around March 2010. Credit: DDM.

While that initial grant was not received our volunteers and our Board President Jay Shoffner in particular did not forget the idea. So when the Transportation Cabinet approached us about a repaving project for Cumberland Avenue in April this year, we revived the crosswalk proposal and made clear what a great help this would be to making the downtown more walkable and welcoming to residents, customers, and visitors who regularly use our downtown. With help from Mayor Bill Kelley and officials from the Transportation Cabinet we were able to revive the crosswalks proposal and have it included in the project to repave Cumberland Ave.

Design proposal showing 2 mile inner loop along Canal, Yellow Creek, and Cumberland Ave, and 7 mile outer loop along Cumberland Ave, Yellow Creek, and Levee. Credit: UK Department of Landscape Architecture.

This proposal also fit in well with work being done with the University of Kentucky and Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to connect the downtown area with the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. A two mile "Inner Loop" has been proposed connecting Cumberland Avenue, the Canal Walk, and Yellow Creek with the National Park around 13th Street. This would also help to advance our bid to become a Kentucky Trail Town by creating a walkable route that connects the National Park and the downtown.

So in a way these crosswalks at Cumberland Ave and 19th may be considered as the first visible steps of a much bigger project to connect our downtown with the National Park. More is soon to follow with bid documents going out shortly on repaving of the Canal Walk and creating a trailhead to go along with that. This eight foot wide shared use asphalt path, once completed, will provide a valuable amenity downtown for residents and visitors alike.

Discover Downtown Middlesboro is a Nationally Certified Kentucky Main Street Program and in 2014 was one of two communities nationally named "Ones to Watch" by the National Main Street Center. The grassroots Main Street Approach® to commercial district revitalization has attracted millions of dollars of public and private investment to downtown Middlesboro since our program was founded in 2006. In 2013, downtown Middlesboro reported $2.7 million of investment, 100 new jobs, and 13 new business created.

For more information please contact Discover Downtown Middlesboro at (606) 248-6155 or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @DDMBoro. www.downtownmiddlesboro.org.

This Moment in Appalachia - Notes from Pikeville

As morning rose over Pikeville, we wondered what the future holds for Eastern Kentucky.

We woke this morning in the pre-dawn hours to view the rolling hills of Pikeville. This was a sort of Homecoming because our first visit to this area was in December last year. At that time we joined with around a thousand other Eastern Kentuckians to participate in the Shaping our Appalachian Region initiative kick-off. The genesis of this initiative was the loss of thousands of coal jobs over the past several years, and the economic crisis this has created.

The mission of SOAR is as follows:

SOAR's mission is to expand job creation, enhance regional opportunity, innovation, and identity, improve the quality of life, and support all those working to achieve these goals in Appalachian Kentucky.

A series of listening sessions have been held all throughout our region since then. There is a SOAR Report, a website, and an Executive Board chaired by our Governor and US Congressman Hal Rogers who are working hard to advance our region in several key areas. Last night we had our first opportunity to provide input and to join with about a dozen other people for a Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Listening Session. This was held at the Kentucky Highlands Innovation Center in Pineville. For two hours we had a wide ranging conversation about the constraints that communities in our area face - from limited resources, gaps in expertise at the local level that are not being filled, but the most important theme that emerged was limited regional collaboration and sharing from one community to the next.

As if a perfect counterpoint and answer to the many hopes, dreams, and aspirations expressed by participants from Clay, Estill, Knox, Bell, and Laurel counties - today we are in Pikeville again for the Capitalizing on Culture conference. Over the next two days we'll participate in a variety of trainings, discussions of the more formal and less formal varieties, and have a chance to network with leaders not just from Eastern Kentucky but from all throughout the Commonwealth. The convener of the conference is the Kentucky Heritage Council along with several partners including Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) and Community Trust Bancorp Inc. Other presenting partners are Preservation Kentucky Inc. (PKI), the Kentucky Main Street Program, Friends of Kentucky Main Street, Pikeville Main Street Program, the City of Pikeville and Pike County. A full schedule of the proceedings is here.

Hopefully this convening will build on earlier events, and infuse an appreciation for heritage, arts, and culture in to these discussions about the region that we're having. For many people heritage and art may seem to be intangible things that the region simply cannot afford given the stark economic challenges we face. In Middlesboro we have taken a slightly different take - we realize that our history, historic buildings, natural resources, and local artisans and crafters are assets that need to be cultivated.  

These lessons were reinforced in January when we were one of seven communities in four states invited to participate in the Appalachian Gateways workshop held in Abingdon, Virginia, by The Conservation Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. There we learned about asset based approaches to community and economic development and how to apply them to our most pressing challenges. What came out of that was formation of the Passage Through the Gap Partnership and a plan to develop a regional Certified Tourism AmbassadorTM training program. This program will help to train ambassadors who will tell the story of our arts, heritage, and unique Appalachian culture for the more than million visitors who pass through the Cumberland Gap each year. Already a $7,500 grant has been secured to launch this program and we're partnering with the Tourism Ambassador Institute® that has already trained over 10,000 ambassadors in 16 states.

Our activities in Middlesboro don't stop there. In the past year we've developed a Makers Market in a vacant storefront now representing two dozen artists. We've become a nationally recognized leader utilizing tactical urbanism to transform our downtown through low-cost DIY interventions. This is what helped us become one of two communities nationally named "Ones to Watch" by the National Main Street Center in May. 

What has worked in Middlesboro better than anything else is our volunteer grassroots-led approach to revitalization. Since 2006 our hundreds of volunteers have spent thousands of hours holding popular events to draw people downtown, restored buildings to make them attractive, and worked to transform the business environment to support entrepreneurs and local businesses. Last year we reported our best economic impact yet with over $2.7 million of investment, 13 new businesses, and over 100 jobs created. We're on track to surpass those numbers for 2014. Even despite our great success, we are excited to hear what leaders from throughout the Commonwealth and beyond have to share that will make our place based revitalization efforts even more successful.

Editorial note: Periodically through the conference we will post updates below. At the close of the conference we'll share our thoughts about what these couple of days meant and where we go from here as a community and region.

Notes from Pikeville

• Friday morning, breakfast, 7:45am. Waiting for the Capitalizing on Culture folks to wake up and head down for breakfast. Had some good discussions from the DAR that are having a separate conference. While watching WYMT in the hotel lobby wondered whether they plan to show up and cover the event.
• Friday morning, post-breakfast, 8:22am. Rep. Hal Rogers just retweeted our post. Nice to see that our national leaders are following our proceedings in Pikeville. Few Congressional districts have had a greater champion for heritage tourism that Rep. Rogers. Thanks for your hard work. By the way, we never would have been able to get to Pikeville last night after the listening session without that Parkway. A double thanks to you for that.
• Friday morning, post-breakfast, 9am. Just had a great conversation with Betsy Hatfield, Executive Director of Preservation and Rachel Alexander, Chief of Operations for the same. Both were eager to hear about our work in Middlesboro and enthusiastic to explore areas to collaborate with communities throughout Eastern Kentucky.

Our ED posing by the Nationally Accredited Main Street program sign. We want one just like it for the Boro! 

• Friday morning, downtown Pikeville, 9:45am. Saw the great Nationally Designated Main Street Community signs about to go in for Pikeville. Proud for Middlesboro to be one of among two dozen communities to receive national certification. So proud, in fact, that we just had to take this photo.
• Friday morning, Expo Center, 10:00am. Just heard introductions from Craig Potts, State Historic Preservation Officer and Executive Director of the Kentucky Heritage Council.
• Friday lunch, 11:30am. Headed out for lunch with Sandi Curd from the Promise Zone and several community leaders from within the Zone including Bobbie Gothard from Cumberland and us in Middlesboro. Kitty Dougoud with the Kentucky Main Street Program joined in the discussion, talking about the role of downtowns to generate economic development and job creation benefits.

Panel on heritage tourism at Pikeville conference Friday afternoon.

• Friday afternoon, Expo Center, 1:25pm. Talking about National Park Service Heritage Tourism itineraries right now. One of speakers from Lexington mentioned the Lewis & Clark Expedition Travel Itinerary that passes right through Middlesboro. Another mentioned the iron furnaces in the Daniel Boone National Forest as an attraction and how one is also located in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
• Friday afternoon, Expo Center, 1:50pm. SHPO Craig Potts asks to go beyond creating great visitor experiences, to ask the role of historic sites promoting economic development in their host towns. Suggest possibility of tying all EKY downtowns together in to a NPS travel itinerary, similar to a travel itinerary that has been developed for downtown areas throughout Kentucky.
• Friday afternoon, Expo Center, 2:30pm. Betsy Hatfiled, Executive Director of Preservation Kentucky calls for forming a regional and local preservation non-profit group that brings preservation, heritage tourism, and economic development under one umbrella... A few minutes later the concept of sharing our ideas, sharing our donors, and sharing our resources was emphasized. Nice to hear such a collaborative approach. This is DEFINITELY something that EKY needs more of.
• Friday afternoon, Expo Center, 2:45pm. Tim Belcher from the Elkhorn City Area Heritage Council speaks about role as the gateway for the Breaks Interstate Park that covers Kentucky and Virginia. 
• Friday afternoon, Expo Center, 3:00pm. Just received word that @ExploreKentucky has been following our proceedings and will be joining us in Pikeville later today. They have a great project where they work with local partners to promote special places from throughout the state.
• Friday afternoon, Expo Center, 3:08pm. Helen Dedman from Harrodsburg talking about attracting money from outside of Kentucky to help with historic preservation. Rocky Point Manor as an example of local property being sold to out-of-state investor site unseen and they proceeded with restoration.
• Friday afternoon, Expo Center, 3:26pm. Conversation on a regional organization shifts to community philanthropy and inviting a younger generation in to the process. Health care sector from University of Pikeville mentioned along with others to be on the ground floor of such an organization. Request for Preservation Kentucky asked to be a convener of conversations regionally. Absence of a single local elected official was mentioned.
• Friday afternoon, Expo Center, 3:30pm. Announcement made that the University of Pikeville is convening a gathering next week to schedule next year of activities for Pikeville and surrounding counties, also to market collectively rather than individually.  Call for folks interested in forming an organization to meet by a couch in the lobby after the session.
• Friday afternoon, Expo Center, 4pm. Had a group of about a dozen leaders from EKY gather to discuss forming a heritage tourism and preservation organization. Passed off the names to Preservation Kentucky that has agreed to have a series of one-on-one discussions with those interested in participating, and to facilitate a large group meeting later this fall.
• Friday evening, Main Street Live, 7pm. Had a great discussion with Superintendents of Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. Met an aspiring Main Street program from Louisa, Kentucky, and caught up with our SHPO Craig Potts a bit. Sometimes what's nice at these events is just planting down in one spot for a while and seeing what comes your way.
• Friday evening, Main Street Live, 9pm. Gerry Seavo with Explore Kentucky arrives in Pikeville. We meet for the first time ever at Main Street Live, then spend the next couple of hours talking and getting to understand one anothers work better. Spoke with him about Better Block, #SharetheLex, and had a great talk about his work too. Put Explore Kentucky stickers in several spot all over downtown Pikeville. Probably one of the smartest and most talented guys I've ever met. Glad he made it to the conference.
• Saturday morning, breakfast, 7am. Had a great conversation with staff from The Center for Appalachian Philanthropy. 
• Saturday morning, Expo Center, 9am. Main Street managers gathered for an update. Brilliant presentation by Diane Comer who serves as public information officer for the SHPO. She had several insightful and at times challenging recommendations for how we can do a better job managing our downtown programs as a brand, and improve the connection with our state and national partners in this effort. Encouraged her afterwards to share her presentation with the National Main Street Center.
• Saturday morning, Expo Center, 11:45am. Heard the creator of Shop Local Kentucky speak. He's working to get the first week of December named Shop Local Kentucky week by the Governor.
• Saturday morning, Expo Center, 12:00pm. We say good bye and then head off for Middlesboro to participate in the Ducky Dash later that day. While driving back along US-25 towards Virginia, reflected on the beauty of the mountains, how isolated each of these towns are from one another and the vast open spaces in between. 
• Saturday afternoon, streets of Pikeville, 12:05pm. Meet Rachel Alexander from Preservation Kentucky as she is heading back to the hotel to check out. Have a nice recap of the conference. Spoke about how excited we both were about the regional preservation organization that PK is now helping to form. Left her with the words, "new we have to go and perfect preservation in Kentucky."

There is a long way to go, to be sure, though some important connections were made and steps taken by all the people who came to Pikeville for this event. More to follow.