FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2023) – Today, Gov. Beshear and Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier announced that the Middlesboro and Paducah Main Street programs have received funding totaling $110,000 to boost tourism and support small businesses in their respective communities.
Middlesboro Main Street has been awarded a $100,000 Small Business Accelerator grant from The Hartford in partnership with Main Street America and Kentucky Main Street. The program is one of three Main Street communities receiving a grant to create a multi-faceted business incubator space. The new offering, which will be located in a refurbished building in the heart of downtown Middlesboro, will allow local small businesses to initiate in-person operations in affordable retail space while supporting entrepreneurs at all stages with co-working and event space.
Paducah Main Street will receive a $10,000 In the Path of Totality grant from the Simons Foundation in partnership with Main Street America and the Kentucky Main Street program. The program is one of 15 Main Street communities receiving a grant to create science engagement activities during the total solar eclipse occurring on April 8, 2024. Given Paducah’s prime location for the eclipse, the city will host many visitors during the event.
“Last year was a record-breaking year for tourism across the commonwealth and our Kentucky Main Street communities played an important role in that success with 587 new jobs created and $47.9 million in investments for 2022,” said Gov. Beshear. “Kentucky’s Main Streets are the hearts of our small towns, and our Main Street programs work to keep these areas thriving for families and travelers to enjoy. I am proud to see the Middlesboro and Paducah programs receive this funding to boost tourism and further support small businesses.”
“Kentucky is proud of its Main Street communities, with good reason, they are the heart and soul of their communities,” said Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier. “We congratulate the Middlesboro and Paducah programs on receiving these grants, which will support small businesses in Middlesboro and eclipse activities in Paducah. These small towns are doing big things, and we applaud their tireless efforts.”
“It is an honor for our Kentucky Main Street communities to have been chosen for these grants that will enhance economic development while supporting small businesses,” said Kentucky Main Street Director Kitty Dougoud. “These grants will also provide educational programming and increased tourism opportunities. The dedication of all our Main Street programs and communities to the vitality of their downtowns is incredible. We value the work they do every day.”
With a focus on the long-term economic health of the community, Middlesboro Main Street will help prepare local small businesses to seamlessly transition from the accelerator space to larger, more permanent locations within the Main Street district. They will also empower business owners with essential skills for sustainable growth through a continuum of support, including comprehensive training programs and cohort development initiatives. The new space is expected to open in the spring of 2024.
The Hartford’s Head of Small Commercial and Personal Lines Stephanie Bush commented, “The Hartford insures nearly 1.5 million small businesses across the country, and we recognize that access to affordable real estate can be a barrier to growth. The Small Business Accelerator Grant Program is designed to provide important interim space for business owners to test a bricks-and-mortar operation, while adding vibrancy to downtown districts and commercial corridors.”
“This is an exhilarating moment for Middlesboro Main Street, as we spearhead the transformation of our downtown area into a vibrant entrepreneurial hub,” said Middlesboro Main Street board member Celia Shoffner. “This grant will fuel our mission to provide invaluable support for local businesses and jumpstart our journey to both economic revitalization and community empowerment.”
Paducah Main Street and Beautiful Paducah are planning a two-day total solar eclipse community festival from Sunday, April 7, to Monday, April 8, 2024, in the heart of Paducah’s historic downtown district. With its experience in hosting crowds during the 2017 total solar eclipse, Paducah is well-equipped to provide an immersive experience related to this rare natural phenomenon.
“Paducah Main Street has recently been granted funding, and we couldn't be more thrilled. The grant will allow us to create an unforgettable experience for all residents and visitors alike as we come together to witness the total solar eclipse,” said Paducah Main Street Interim Director Nic Hutchinson. “The event is set to be a fantastic opportunity to help people broaden their understanding of science while also connecting with the downtown area. With the funding we have received, we will be able to offer a host of educational opportunities and programming throughout the event. We are excited to see what this event will bring and look forward to welcoming everyone to Paducah.”
Activities will include a children’s and adult eclipse and science trivia scavenger hunt that will take participants to community landmarks and local businesses, along with public programs hosted by the River Discovery Center, Paducah’s centrally located local museum. Other community partners include local organizations and businesses.
The In the Path of Totality initiative is intentionally designed for communities to actively engage residents with science. The program presents a unique opportunity for Main Streets to create meaningful and memorable experiences for community members, centered by the total solar eclipse.
“By bringing these Main Streets together and providing financial and capacity-building support to them and more, we’re helping ensure that people have an unforgettable shared experience,” said Vice President of the Science, Society & Culture Division at the Simons Foundation Ivvet Modinou. “While the entire country will witness a partial eclipse on April 8, we’re focusing our efforts within the path of totality: the narrow strip of Earth that the moon will cast its shadow upon when it crosses the Sun’s orbit. We’re spotlighting towns — from Texas to Maine — that fall in this narrow path because we believe that everyone should have an opportunity to engage with science in a place they call home.”
In May, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentucky Main Street program communities finished 2022 strong with a reported $47.9 million cumulative investment in downtown commercial districts with a net gain of 587 new jobs, 130 new businesses and 201 rehabilitation projects completed.
Since the pandemic, the program has invested $151.8 million in downtown commercial districts, created 972 new jobs and 354 new businesses, and completed 324 historic building rehabilitation projects. KYMS has generated more than $4.7 billion of investment throughout the commonwealth since its inception.
The Kentucky Main Street program was created by the Kentucky Heritage Council (KHC)/State Historic Preservation Office in 1979 to reverse economic decline in central business districts through historic preservation and redevelopment of commercial buildings. The statewide program has 25 communities: Bardstown, Beattyville, Campbellsville, Carrollton, Catlettsburg, Cynthiana, Grayson, Guthrie, LaGrange, London, Maysville, Middlesboro, Morehead, Murray, Paducah, Perryville, Pikeville, Pineville, Salyersville, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Springfield, Taylorsville, Tri-Cities of Cumberland, and Williamsburg.
For more information, visit heritage.ky.gov.
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 prehistoric resources and historic buildings, sites and cultural resources throughout the commonwealth, in partnership with other state and federal agencies, local communities and interested citizens.