FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$500,000 available for building improvements in
downtown Middlesboro
Berea, Ky. – The Mountain Association for Community
Economic Development (MACED) will announce on Friday, Sept. 12 its partnership
with Discover Downtown Middlesboro (DDM) and America Saves! to offer Energy
Savings Loans to downtown Middlesboro, Ky., business and building owners.
“MACED is
committed to helping small businesses save money in downtown Middlesboro, and
making downtown buildings more affordable to operate and more appealing to lease,”
MACED Enterprise Development Director Paul Wright said. He added “We support reinvestment
in downtown and commercial corridors, and believe in demonstrating how a local
economy can benefit from energy efficiency improvements.”
America Saves!
is a national program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Preservation
Green Lab of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Main
Street Center. It helps building owners across the country identify long-term
energy cost savings. Discover Downtown Middlesboro is one of America Saves!
first pilot program sites. DDM received a grant from America Saves! to enroll
100 buildings in the energy efficiency program.
“If all 100 buildings enrolled in America Saves! implemented
an average sized energy efficiency upgrade, it could result in at least
$500,000 in new investment in downtown Middlesboro,” DDM President Jay
Shoffner said. He continued, “We’re
so happy that MACED is ready to help downtown Middlesboro businesses and building owners make wise
investments today to strengthen their businesses tomorrow.”
Participants will receive free energy savings potential
analyses in easy-to-understand technical reports with improvements prioritized based
on energy savings and payback. Building
owners who apply for a MACED energy efficiency loan can access up to $50,000 to
help implement energy efficiency projects by December 31, 2015. MACED will
waive loans fees for Middlesboro projects that qualify.
The
announcement about the partnership between MACED, America Saves! and DDM will
be made at the “Achieving Energy Savings Workshop” at the Makers Market, 2008
Cumberland Ave. The workshop is open to the public and will be on Friday, Sept.
12, from 11:30am-1pm. Presenters
will include:
Preservation
Green Lab Associate Project Manager
Jeana C. Wiser, America Saves! Project
Manager Lindsey M. Wallace, DDM Executive Director Isaac Kremer, MACED
Enterprise Development Director Paul Wright, and MACED Energy Efficient Enterprises Program Coordinator Josh Bills. Those interested in attending may RSVP
by calling (606) 248-6155 or sending an email to
downtownmiddlesboro@gmail.com. A free
lunch will be provided.
###
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.
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