Leaders Discuss Economic Development and Historic Preservation in Middlesborough, Kentucky

Some meeting participants in front of the Elks Home in Middlesborough. Front row (left to right):
Jen Williamson, Vicki Birenberg, Craig Botts. Back row: Kitty Dougoud, Same Coleman,
and Isaac Kremer. Credit: DDM, 2013.

Middlesborough, Kentucky, July 29, 2013 – Just over a week ago this small Southeast Kentucky town hosted a number of state and regional leaders to discuss the economic development benefits of historic preservation. The meeting was convened by Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc., a local non-profit organization that follows the Main Street Four Point Approach ® to downtown revitalization.

Officials from the Kentucky Heritage Council joined with the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED) and the Southeast Kentucky Small Business Development Center to discuss how historic preservation might help to create jobs, revitalize the historic downtown, and reinvigorate the local and regional economy.

Craig Potts, Executive Director of the Kentucky Heritage Council and recently appointed State Historic Preservation Officer said of the trip, “It was nice getting to know everyone during our recent visit. We’re excited about the vision for historic preservation in Middlesborough and look forward to supporting community efforts.”

Other officials visiting from the Kentucky Heritage Council included Jen Williamson, Staff Architect and administrator of the Preservation Tax Credit program. Kitty Dougoud represented the Kentucky Main Street program and Vicki Birenberg represented the Certified Local Government program. Middlesborough is a Designated Main Street program and a Certified Local Government.

State Historic Preservation Officer Craig Potts and Jen Williamson, Architect
on the 4th floor of the Elks Home in Middlesborough. Credit: DDM, 2013.

Also participating was Paul Wright, Enterprise Development Director for MACED. Afterwards he said, “It was a pleasure meeting with leaders in Middlesborough and seeing all the great economic development, preservation and community development opportunities there.”

During the visit, participants had a chance to see firsthand several of the historic preservation projects that have recently been completed or that are in the works. In the completed category are the Nagle Law Office, 1910 Cumberland Ave, and the National Bank Building at Cumberland and N 20^th Street. In progress is the Pinnacle Building at 2010 Cumberland Avewhere Dr. Lovie Stallworth recently opened a pediatric practice. This project has been brought to fruition under the careful watch of Sam Coleman with the Small Business Development Center at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College.

 Elks Home historically and today. Credit: DDM, 1910's and 2013.

Another project in the works is the $10 million restoration of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Home. This building was donated to DDM in December 2012. Since then the organization has worked with numerous federal, state, and regional partners on formulating plans for the restoration. At four stories and with nearly 27,000 square feet, the building has enormous revitalization potential. Envisioned as a catalyst project, various uses are being considered including apartments on the upper floors with restaurant and retail on the ground floor. One visitor commented how the building layout lent itself to a hotel use with a light filled main staircase leading to public rooms on the second floor. Another vision is to take this building that once served as the Middlesborough Hospital and reuse it as an assisted living facility.

Recently, a local non-profit, Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc., secured $40,000 in grants for community planning activities. These grants from a variety of national, state, and regional sources will assist in the preparation of a strategic plan for the downtown, formulating a historic preservation plan, performing a market analysis, and then finally putting all of these ideas into action around mid-October with a Build a Better Block event led by Mike Lydon from the Street Plans collaborative.

For those who would like more information about downtown revitalization or to get involved, please contact (606) 248-6155 or visit www.downtownmiddlesboro.org.

Contact:

Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director

Discover Downtown Middlesboro

(606) 248-6155

downtownmiddlesboro@gmail.com

www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org

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Evening Walk through the Cumberland Gap to Unveil the Hidden Stories of America’s Great Legacy

Staff at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park eagerly heralds the third annual “Within the Shadows of Cumberland Gap Heritage Walk” being held Saturday, August 3^rd, 2013.  Each year, some of the lesser-known people in the Gap’s history - from geologists to politicians, from scalp buyers to ancestors of presidents - are showcased.  This year, visitors will encounter seven short plays along the Wilderness Road that may surprise even those who think they know all about the Cumberland Gap! 

“We tend to think of people such as Daniel Boone and Civil War generals at the Cumberland Gap, but there were thousands of other people who traveled through this historic passageway” explained park historian Martha Wiley.  “This is our chance to share with park visitors and neighbors some of these ‘hidden history’ stories.  It’s a lot of fun for park staff and volunteers to be able to portray some of these riveting characters from our past!” 

Rangers will be leading three hikes along the Wilderness Road with the first one beginning at 6:00 p.m., the next at 6:30, and the final at 7:00 p.m.  Each hike will take approximately 90 minutes traversing 1.5 miles on a dirt trail with hilly sections; good walking shoes are required.  This popular event is free, but each tour is limited to 30 people, so reservations are recommended by calling the park visitor center at (606) 246-1075.   

Visitors should be at the Daniel Boone Visitor Information Center above the town of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee 30 minutes prior to the scheduled tour time, as shuttles will take visitors to the starting point at the Thomas Walker parking area.  In case of heavy rain the event will be cancelled. 

This program is being co-hosted by the Friends of Cumberland Gap and park partner Eastern National.  For more information about Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, please call (606) 248-2817 or visit www.nps.gov/cuga.  For more information on the Friends of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and how to become involved, please visit www.friendsofcumberlandgap.org or find them on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/friendsofcumberlandgap.  Learn how Eastern National supports the interpretive and educational mission of the National Park Service by visiting www.easternnational.org.  

Small Business Development Center Holding Training Classes, August 2013

Downtown Middlesborough Cleanup Announced for Saturday, July 27, 2013

A group getting involved in community clean-up activities from 2007 (DDM Photo).

Join Discover Downtown Middlesboro (DDM) in cleaning up our beautiful Downtown on Saturday, July 27 at 8:00am. Participants are asked to meet in the City Hall Parking Lot by the gazebo directly in front of City Hall. We will focus clean-up activities on the City Hall Parking Lot, Canal Walk, and Cumberland Avenue in an effort to make Middlesboro look it's best for the Vietnam Memorial Wall on August 1 -5th and The Ducky Dash on August 24th.

Lunch will be provided by KFC and People’s Choice Pharmacy as a thank you to volunteers for their hard work. If you have the following items, we encourage you to bring them along: Gloves, clippers, power-washers, ladders, and any other item you think might be helpful. 

For downtown businesses interested in having your awning cleaned (for free) please contact DDM at (606) 248-6155 or via our website at www.downtownmiddlesboro.org. 

Ducky Dash Announced for Saturday, August 24, in Downtown Middlesboro

Live music on Fountain Square during Ducky Dash 2012

Downtown Middlesboro is pleased to host the award-winning Ducky Dash event once again this year. The date and time we've selected for the event is Saturday, August 24, 2013, from 4-7pm. We'll once again hold the main festivities in Fountain Square, at the corner of 20th Street and Cumberland Ave in downtown Middlesboro.

The highlight of the event each year is the famous duck race in our historic canal. Rubber duckies will be available for purchase in advance of the event at stores throughout the downtown. More ducks will be available to purchase at the event itself. All proceeds from the Ducky Dash go to benefit ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.

The streets of Cumberland Ave line up with food, vendors, and exciting events.

You'll want to be there from the moment ducks hit the water until they cross the finish line.

In addition to the race, plans are coming along for live music, food, and vendors. More information about those will be shared as it becomes available. Sponsorship opportunities for the event are available. Anyone who would like to become a sponsor, be a vendor, or help with organizing family friendly events during the event is welcome to fill out this registration form.

If you have any questions about the event or want to find out more about how to get involved, please contact Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc. at (606) 248-6155, via Facebook, or Twitter @DDMBoro. Thank you for your participation and interest in advance. With your help this will be the best ever Ducky Dash!