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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Small Business Development Center Holding Training Classes, August 2013

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/.