Public Hearing on Elks Home, January 21, 7pm

Elks Home as it appears today. Courtesy Discover Downtown Middlesboro

A Public Hearing on up to $600,000 in grants to clean up the Elks Home in Middlesboro will be held at City Hall on January 21, 2014, starting at 7p.m.


Discover Downtown Middlesboro acquired this property in December 2012. We're working with the EPA to find ways to make the building safe. This includes removing he asbestos, lead, and mold that has been documented on the site.


Another benefit of this project is to create dozens of jobs, helping to train people in environmental clean-up. These good paying and safe jobs help to provide opportunities for local people needing this the most. If you can, please come out and support our application tonight.


Even if you are unavailable to attend, it is possible to send your responses in writing to the
Regional Office of the EPA.

Elks Home as it appeared in the 1980s. Courtesy Kentucky Heritage Council.

Discover Downtown Middlesboro Releases Data on Investment and Job Creation in 2013

Discover Downtown Middlesboro recently reported statistics about the economic performance and business environment of the downtown area to the Kentucky Main Street Program. This is an annual requirement to help maintain the community's status as a "Designated Main Street Program."

Total reinvestment in the downtown in 2013 as reported by business owners was $2,765,650.00. There were six facade projects totaling $6,500, one new building at a total cost of $1,300,000, and the remaining balance went towards building renovation. The total number of jobs in the district was 877 with 100 new jobs created in 2013. Finally, there were 13 new businesses that opened.

Discover Downtown Middlesboro Executive Director Isaac Kremer will be attending the Kentucky Main Street conference in Frankfort, Thursday, January 16 and Friday, January 17. While there he will interact with colleagues from throughout the Commonwealth, hear about best practices in downtown revitalization, and bring many of those lessons back to Middlesborough. For more information, please visit: http://heritage.ky.gov/mainstreet/.

Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City, to visit Kentucky

The year 2014 marks the beginning of a new approach to thinking about historic preservation, and your opportunity to learn from exciting speakers and dynamic programming. For the first time, the Kentucky Heritage Council and Preservation Kentucky are partnering to present the Kentucky Preservation Series - a new initiative of quarterly workshops designed for broad appeal, and to give you the information you need to help care for your historic home or building and work more effectively in your own community. To kick this off, we proudly announce:

Creating Life on City Streets: Walkability 
Including a lecture and workshop with Jeff Speck, author of the new book "Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time"

These keynote sessions coincide with the annual winter meeting of the Kentucky Main Street Program, in Frankfort from Jan. 15-17. New this year, the public is invited to join local Main Street managers, board members, elected officials and others to learn about current issues in community revitalization. Topics will be of broad interest to communities interested in strategies to preserve and utilize their historic downtown buildings, capitalize on authentic assets, promote heritage tourism and create positive energy that attracts residents and visitors.

Jeff Speck appearance schedule (sponsored through the support of KHC board member Nana Lampton): 

Lecture and book signing - 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 16
Grand Theatre, St. Clair Mall, Frankfort
$10 general admission

Workshop - 9 to 11 a.m. 
Friday, Jan. 17 
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, 200 Mero Street, Frankfort
 $25 general admission

 Click here for the complete conference schedule. Full conference registration is $100 per person and includes educational sessions, Jeff Speck lecture and workshop, a reception hosted by Preservation Kentucky, and the premiere of the film "Kentucky Governor's Mansion: A Century of Reflection," at the Grand Theatre. Single-day registration is $35.

Download the registration form and return with payment to the Kentucky Heritage Council, and watch for more details at www.heritage.ky.gov

 Given today's reality of tight budgets and limited travel time, this series will take place in lieu of the long-running biennial statewide historic preservation conference, which many of you have attended over the years. The goal of this new series is to present relevant preservation-related topics and hands-on training in strategic locations across the Commonwealth, working in concert with partner organizations at the local level, in venues accessible to a wide range of constituents.

 Administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council, the Kentucky Main Street Program is presenting the conference in partnership with the nonprofit organization Friends of Kentucky Main Street.

An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet The Kentucky Heritage Council / State Historic Preservation Office is responsible for the identification, protection and preservation of prehistoric resources and historic buildings, sites and cultural resources throughout the Commonwealth, in partnership with other state and federal agencies, local communities and interested citizens. This mission is integral to making communities more livable and has a far-ranging impact on issues as diverse as economic development, heritage tourism, jobs creation, affordable housing, community revitalization, environmental conservation and quality of life.

Christmas Celebrations Coming to Downtown Middlesborough

Santa's House coming together nicely at 1927 Cumberland Ave.

Middlesborough, Kentucky - Signs of the Christmas holiday are everywhere in downtown Middlesboro. The big tree is up downtown, Santa has been given a new house on Fountain Square, and over 50 entries are getting ready for the Christmas Parade this Saturday at 3pm.

Volunteers from Discover Downtown Middlesboro have once again taken the lead organizing not only the parade, but also decorations to give the downtown a festive look and feel. Keith Nagle, DDM President said, “We are happy to invite people downtown this time of year to enjoy a one-of-a kind community celebration.”

A Tree Lighting is being planned for Friday, December 6 at 6pm in Fountain Square. In case of rain the location will be at Santa’s House at 1927 Cumberland Ave. Featured people and groups will include Kentucky Senator Brandon Smith, local singer Jade Robertson,and  Middlesboro Elementary School Principal Dr. Tony Maxwell. Area choirs, churches, and Ms. Cumberland Mountain Fall Festival Queen Brooke Gibbs will also participate.

The Middlesboro Christmas Parade will start promptly at 3pm on Saturday, December 7. The theme of the parade this year is “An Old Fashioned Christmas.” People are encouraged to line the parade route along Cumberland Ave between 15^th and 21^st Street. Bleachers will be on Fountain Square and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

A storefront at 1927 Cumberland Ave has been converted into Santa’s House for kids and families to visit with Santa Claus. Visitation will be open immediately after the parade on December 7, and again on December 13, 14, 20, and 21 starting at 5pm each night. Building owner Mack Yoakum generously donated the space for Santa’s House.

A student from LMU painting the window at JRS Restaurant Corp. on Cumberland Ave.

Building on a successful window painting project last year, this year faculty and students from Lincoln Memorial University and the Middlesboro High School Key Club have painted holiday scenes on storefront windows. Be sure to come out and see the festive scenes that they create.

Sponsors for the Christmas celebration this year include  Commercial Bank, Community Trust Bank, First State Financial, Home Federal Bank, Danny J Luttrell Insurance, and Southeast Eye Associates. Generous contributions have also been made by Ike Slusher, Dr. Kenneth Smith, Larry Brooks, and Steve Obermann. Local businesses that have made in-kind donations include Jim Brown Supply providing the lift to decorate the tree, JR Hoe & Sons giving the trailer for the stage, and East End Pawn, Mikel’s Pharmacy, Three States Printing, and Walmart.

Susannah Cadle with Antique & Modern Jewelry putting finishing touches on her Christmas display.

Assisting in our fundraising efforts is the Fund for the Arts based in Louisville and their Power2Give website. Every dollar that local people give will be matched by an additional dollar from LG&E and KU Energy. Donna Smith, Organization Committee Chair said “We encourage folks to make a donation today to make this Christmas a special one for everyone involved.”

A link to the Power2Give website is here:

http://power2give.org/kentucky/Project/Detail?projectId=2627

Contact:

Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director

Discover Downtown Middlesboro

(606) 248-6155

downtownmiddlesboro@gmail.com

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Appalachian Transition Fellowship Fellows Webinar, Mon, 12/16, 5-6pm

Highlander Research and Education Center & Rural Support Partners invite you to the: Appalachian Transition Fellowship Fellows Webinar   Join our webinar on Monday, December 16 at 5 - 6 pm EST  for an overview of the program and how to apply. AppFellows are a select group of emerging leaders from across the region that are committed to finding innovative solutions to foster a just and sustainable Appalachian economy starting June, 2014!   Click Here To Register Today!

Learn More About Appfellows! AppFellows seeks to increase the connectivity, collaboration, and capacity of Central Appalachian institutions and leaders by building a collective analysis and seeding projects that solve regional systemic problems and foster a just and sustainable Appalachian economy. Can't Join Us in December? Join our fellows webinar  January 16th 1-2 pm. Additional information is forthcoming!

For More Information Visit our Website:  www.AppFellows.org

Discover Downtown Middlesboro Thanks LMU's ENACTUS for work on Better Block Event

Harrogate, Tennessee, November 15, 2013-  Discover Downtown Middlesboro Executive Director Isaac Kremer attended the Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) ENACTUS meeting to present the student organization with a contribution in recognition of its service. ENACTUS members were among the 100 volunteers who contributed over 1,000 hours to DDM's Build A Better Block event which took place October 25-27, 2013. Volunteers worked toward the goal of revitalizing the downtown Middlesboro area by constructing a stage to provide local and visiting musicians a place to perform and completing renovations on downtown landmarks.

Pictured is Discover Downtown Middlesboro Executive Director Isaac Kremer presenting ENACTUS Chief Business Advisory Board and Alumni Affairs Officer Dustin Fowler with a  check in recognition of the student organization's contributions to the Build A Better Block event.

This project was funded by an Appalachian Regional Commission Flex-E-Grant through the Kentucky Department for Local Government and administered by 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.

Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or e-mail atadmissions@lmunet.edu.

McConnell Helps Middlesboro Secure National Park Service Assistance

For Immediate Release, Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Contacts: Robert Steurer, Stephanie Penn 202-224-8288

McConnell Helps Middlesboro Secure National Park Service Assistance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced today the National Park Service agreed to provide technical assistance for Middlesboro, Kentucky, which will be used to help improve infrastructure to the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. 

Earlier this year, Senator McConnell was contacted by Middlesboro officials asking him to assist with their grant application with the National Parks Service. In July, Senator McConnell contacted the Southeast Program Manager of the National Park Service on behalf of his constituents to encourage a “fair review” of their grant proposal.

On October 23, the National Park Service informed Isaac Kremer, Executive Director of Discover Downtown Middlesboro, that their application was approved and they would receive assistance for Fiscal Year 2014 for this community-based initiative.

“This is great news for the people of Middlesboro,” Senator McConnell said. “The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is one of Kentucky’s top tourist attractions, and this effort will help attract visitors and highlight the historical, cultural and natural resources of the area.”

Isaac Kremer, Executive Director of Discover Downtown Middlesboro, said, "Senator McConnell has championed job creation, downtown revitalization, and economic development throughout Kentucky and our area of Appalachian Kentucky in particular. We are strengthened and encouraged through his support of our community revitalization goals that include development of a Cumberland Gap to Middlesboro trail."

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