Makers Market Announces $100 to $500 for Local Artists, Craftspeople, Musicians, and Food Producers

The Makers Market will be held every Friday and Saturday from the start of April through the end of June. The Market will provide an opportunity for local artists, craftspeople, musicians, and food producers to demonstrate their skills and showcase their products. Speakers who are experts in small town arts economies will also be invited to present at Makers Market events to share expertise around developing downtown in areas of arts and culture. The project addresses the long-term goal of developing the local economy through the creation of small cultural businesses that can revitalize the downtown area. In total, 26 performances, lectures, and demonstrations are expected to take place during the project period.

This call for nominations is for individuals, organizations, and businesses that wish to participate in the series. Members of the public are also invited to submit nominations on behalf of people or groups they think might be good to participate. A quick and easy online survey form is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7GP8B6C.

The deadline for submitting nominations is March 15. At that time a committee will review all of the nominations submitted and select participants for the series. Participants that are selected will be given an honorarium between $100 and $500 based on the nature of their work and the contribution they make to the overall series. Details about people and groups selected will be released in mid-March.

This project is being 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.

Local Businesses Help to Make Christmas Merrier in Downtown Middlesboro

Volunteers hanging ornaments on Christmas Tree in Fountain Square. (Photo credit: DDM)

Middlesboro, Kentucky, December 4, 2012 – There almost was not a fully decorated Christmas tree for the Middlesboro Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting last Saturday.

Final preparations kicked into high gear following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. With the Christmas Parade falling early this year on December 1, there was even less time to get done all the work that was needed. The City of Middlesboro Street Department was diligent getting the Christmas tree set up in Fountain Square. Something was obviously missing though – the decorations.

By Wednesday night it became apparent that decisive action would be needed to get the decorations in their place. Some suggested having someone climb the tree, though this was not practical or realistic. Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc. is the non-profit responsible for organizing the parade. Their new Executive Director Isaac Kremer had just been in town since October and was still learning names, much less knowing who to ask for what.

Christmas Tree decoration
underway (Photo: DDM)

“Earlier that day someone mentioned to me how Jim Brown Supply had lifts for rent. I realized we had already called in all our favors but the tree needed to be decorated,” Kremer said. He called the store first thing on Thursday morning around 7am. By 9am they personally delivered a lift to Fountain Square. Subsequently Isaac, his wife Chrissy, and several volunteers worked to decorate the tree in under two hours. This freed up Kremer and others to put the finishing touches on the Christmas Parade and the downtown – helping to ensure a highly successful event this past Saturday.

Upon reflecting about the help that Jim Brown Supply provided, DDM Executive Director Isaac concluded: “This deep commitment to customer service and a willingness to be responsive to the needs of the community are two keys to success of any business. Our experience with Jim Brown Supply especially shows the important supporting role that small businesses provide for our community.”

Discover Downtown Middlesboro also wishes to thank all of our sponsors who supported the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. These include: Attorney Keith Nagle; Bell County Animal Clinic; Commercial Bank; Community Trust Bank; First State Financial; International Mobile Homes; Jim Brown Supply; Johnco, Inc.; J.P. Cline III, Attorney at Law; KAT COUNTRY WFXY/WANO & MCTV22; Kentucky Fried Chicken; Middlesboro ARH; Mikel’s Pharmacy; Pace Towing; Pillion Accounting; Three States Printing; and World Wide Gap.

In addition to sponsors, Discover Downtown Middlesboro is incredibly thankful to Middlesboro Independent School District. In particular Mr. Robert Gordon, Mrs. Joy Williams; and Mrs. Lisa Schneider were instrumental in organizing the window painting downtown.

If you have a chance, please thank Jim Brown Supply and all of our sponsors and volunteers for making the downtown look spectacular and for contributing to the success of the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting this year.

Contact:

Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director

Discover Downtown Middlesboro

(606) 248-6155

downtownmiddlesboro@gmail.com

www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org

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