Discover Downtown Middlesboro Volunteers Clean Up Downtown

Before and after photos of 103 N 19th St 

Middlesborough, Kentucky, July 29, 2013 – On Saturday, July 27, thirty volunteers were organized by Discover Downtown Middlesboro, in an effort to clean up Downtown in preparation for the Vietnam Wall coming August 2 – August 5, and the Annual DDM Ducky Dash on August 24.

“We focused mainly on the City Hall Parking Lot, the Canal Walk from 20^th Street to Cumberland Avenue, and Cumberland Avenue from 19^th Street to the Arthur Museum. We also took down two awnings and cleaned Dr. McGeorge’s awning,” stated Jarryd Boster who along with the DDM Design Committee organized the event. “We were extremely pleased by the turn out of volunteers. They were all hard workers and they did a tremendous job.”

“Our hope is that this will become an annual event that brings attention and pride to our Downtown Area. We have such a picturesque community that we want to take care of. The overwhelming volunteer turnout is evidence of the importance the citizens of Middlesboro place on a clean and well maintained downtown,” explained Becky Bowling, another Design Committee member.

In total they collected 32 large trashbags, 3 grocery carts, a computer monitor, 3 tarps that were swimming in the canal, 623 cans and bottles, 2 large pipes, a large bundle of sharp wire, and 2,109 cigarette butts.

“We would like to think that this might make our citizen’s a little more mindful of putting their trash in a garbage can, rather than littering,” said Boster.

DDM would also like to give a special thanks to Food City of Middlesboro for donating trash bags, Bowling Law Office for donating trash bags and gloves, KFC for donating lunch to all the volunteers, and People’s Choice Pharmacy for donating drinks.

Before and after photos of 1907 Cumberland Ave

Downtown Middlesboro Executive Director Isaac Kremer said afterwards, “I felt this event was a huge success, and reflected well on the quality of volunteers we have in the organization and their strong desire to improve their community for the better.”  The Design Committee is made up of Jay & Kelly Shoffner, Jarryd & Stephanie Boster, Steven & Ashley Cambron, Adam & Becky Bowling, and Evelyn Farmer.  

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:

Becky Bowling

(606) 248-8383

becky.dedman@gmail.com

Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director

Discover Downtown Middlesboro

(606) 248-6155

downtownmiddlesboro@gmail.com

www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org

###

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

###

Keys to Small Business Success

The following list of Keys to Small Business Success was generously provided to us by Danny Korman, the owner of Park+Vine. This business located in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, has been called the "General Store of the Future." They specialize in eco-friendly merchandise that minimizes the use of natural resources and animal byproducts. Products include reusable bottles, bags and food carriers, non-toxic cleaning and paint supplies, natural baby and parenting supplies, a growing selection of foodstuff, and lots more. Through a variety of events hold at their store, they have successfully made it a center of the social and cultural life of Cincinnati. 

Hopefully, some of these suggestions will be helpful to you and/or your business...

1. Running a small business is a lot of work, but a lot easier when we're in touch with our inner spiritual self. This little store has taught me how to be a better human. It's the hardest and most rewarding experience of my life
2. Be yourself and be persistently positive no matter what.
3. Be kind to yourself first and every single person who walks in the door, regardless if (s)he buys something.
4. Avoid worrying about/competing with other small businesses. They're allies. Cheer them on and be glad you're not in a business district desert.
5. Move stuff and, therefore, energy around. This gives people a reason to question what's up.
6. Listen to what people are saying, sleep on it, keep listening and then respond if you hear the same thing often enough.
7. Tell folks how grateful you are that they're supporting your business and how much of a difference it makes.
8. Surround yourself with people who know more than you do.
9. Hand over the scary tasks (taxes!) to a trusted person.
10. Shake things off, like puppies.
11. Local places are struggling/doing-everything-they-can to stay open, while others are thriving. Businesses come and go. Change is the essence of life. If you love a business, do everything you can to support it. This could be the day that makes the difference in the life of someone or something you love. This is both sappy and the real deal.
12. People go where they want to go, do what they want to do, and spend time with people they want to spend time with.

Courtesy of Park + Vine, Cincinnati, OH, http://www.parkandvine.com/.

Middlesboro partners with Walk [Your City] of Raleigh to Promote Walking

Middlesboro, Kentucky - This southeastern Kentucky community is one of the first of several hundred communities in the U.S. and internationally to apply for and receive two free complimentary signs from Walk [Your City]. These will be placed at locations in the downtown area and direct people to other areas they may walk to with the approximate time it takes to walk to that location.

The mission of Walk [Your City] is "Getting More Feet on the Street™!" One the initial signs are installed, people in other communities all over the U.S. and internationally will be able to create their own signs through this easy to use web-based service.

Keep your eyes open for where the signs will be popping up the next few weeks in Middlesboro. Better yet, if you see them, share a picture with us on social media via Twitter @DDMBoro or Facebook.com/DDMBoro.

Craig A. Potts named Kentucky Heritage Council executive director and state historic preservation officer

Kentucky Heritage Council Press Release

Craig A. Potts named Kentucky Heritage Council executive director and state historic preservation officer

Release Date                                                                Contact: Diane Comer

Thursday, June 6, 2013                                                502-564-7005, ext. 120

                                                                                    diane.comer@ky.gov

Frankfort, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear has announced the appointment of Craig A. Potts as executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Council (KHC) and state historic preservation officer, effective June 1. The position had been filled in an interim capacity by Lindy Casebier, deputy secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

“I join with the entire board and staff of the Kentucky Heritage Council in congratulating Craig on his appointment,” said KHC Chairman Robert W. Griffith. “Craig is well-qualified by experience and temperament for this important work, and all of us wish him every success in this job, one that is so important to all Kentuckians.”

Potts has served as KHC’s Site Protection program manager since 2009, responsible for a staff of six who oversee Section 106 Review of federally funded projects and the agency’s professional archaeology component, which includes the Kentucky Archaeological Survey, a partnership between KHC and the University of Kentucky Department of Anthropology. In his new capacity, he will oversee a staff of 20 whose responsibilities also include administering state and federal rehabilitation tax credit programs, the Kentucky Main Street Program, historic sites survey, the National Register of Historic Places, preservation planning, the Certified Local Government (CLG) Program, and staff support for the Kentucky African American, Kentucky Native American and Kentucky Military heritage commissions.

“I am thrilled to receive this appointment,” said Potts. “I’ve always had a special love for this agency, and believe deeply in our mission of helping Kentuckians preserve their heritage and the things that give us a strong sense of place, including small towns, rural environments, and cultural resources that range from historic commercial buildings to prehistoric archaeological sites.”

In addition, he adds, “I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside this staff for a number of years and I greatly respect the work they do, day in and day out, for our constituents. I look forward to supporting them in this new role and working with them to do new and exciting things in moving the agency forward.”

Potts was previously senior architectural historian, principal investigator and supervisor for Cultural Resource Analysts Inc. in Lexington, responsible for oversight of architectural history and historic preservation projects; and a principal, project manager and general contractor with Potts & Potts LLC, a historic property rehabilitation and management partnership. The firm was recognized on the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Positive Preservation in the Bluegrass” list of 25 outstanding projects in September 2007, for adaptive reuse of a circa-1850 building in Frankfort’s downtown commercial historic district.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Wittenberg University; a Master of Arts in architectural history, and a Master of Fine Arts in historic preservation, from the Savannah College of Art and Design; and logged a wide range of practical experience in cultural resource evaluation and management prior to first joining KHC as environmental review coordinator from 2001-2004.

Potts lives in downtown Frankfort with his wife, Amy, and sons Sam and Simon, in a historic commercial building he and his family recently rehabilitated.

# # #

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 archaeological 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, jobs creation, affordable housing, tourism, community revitalization, environmental conservation and quality of life. www.heritage.ky.gov