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Kentucky Heritage Council
Bradfordsville, Magnolia and New Haven named Kentucky Crossroads Communities
RHDI CONTACT:
Amy Potts
Preservation Kentucky, Inc.
(270) 765-9235
amy@preservationkentucky.org
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Three communities in the Kentucky Crossroads Rural Heritage Development Initiative (RHDI) region have been chosen to participate in a model program to encourage small-town revitalization based on the Kentucky Main Street Program’s approach. Bradfordsville, Magnolia and New Haven have been selected Kentucky Crossroads Communities based on the strength of their applications to the program as well as an assessment of readiness, community support and interest, local leadership and their commitment to partner with the lead RHDI agencies – Preservation Kentucky, Inc., and the Kentucky Heritage Council / State Historic Preservation Office.
The goal of the Crossroads Communities program is to create historic preservation and economic development opportunities for incorporated and unincorporated communities with populations of 2,000 or less. Program areas will be modeled after the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach to community revitalization, which have been successfully utilized by the Heritage Council’s Kentucky Main Street Program since 1979 – organization, design, economic restructuring and promotion.
“As rural downtowns face decline in population and economic base, we hope through this partnership and the leadership of each of these three communities to come up with creative solutions to address the special needs of smaller, rural population centers,” said Amy Potts, RHDI field representative.
“Strategies for each of the four points will be highlighted including committee structure, creating awareness of historic preservation and design principles, promoting festivals and events within a regional context, and creating a regional marketing plan for business recruitment in their downtown cores,” said Becky Gorman, Kentucky Heritage Council / Kentucky Main Street Program coordinator.
Bradfordsville is located in Marion County, New Haven is in Nelson County and Magnolia is an unincorporated community located in LaRue County. Each participating Crossroads Community will nominate a leadership team of individuals who will work closely with the RHDI field representative and staff of the Kentucky Main Street Program to develop projects and assess their effectiveness. To assist these efforts, staff and board members from regional Main Street programs will serve as mentors.
Success of the model will serve to establish future programs in other rural Kentucky communities, according to Potts. Related programming and training will also be offered in other small communities throughout the RHDI region that have participated in the Main Street program, including Bloomfield and Perryville.
The Kentucky Crossroads RHDI is a three-year demonstration program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in collaboration with Preservation Kentucky and the Kentucky Heritage Council, to help develop and implement preservation-based economic development strategies in the eight-county central Kentucky region of Boyle, Green, LaRue, Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor and Washington. The initiative is funded largely through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
The Kentucky Main Street Program provides technical and design assistance, on-site visits, a resource center and consultation to more than 80 Main Street programs statewide, partnering with Renaissance on Main through the Governor’s Office for Local Development. Last year, local Main Street programs reported more than $292 million invested in downtowns, resulting in 1,923 new jobs in Main Street districts, 401 new businesses and 345 downtown buildings rehabilitated.
NOTE TO MEDIA: RHDI and Kentucky Main Street Program staff are conducting organizational meetings with Crossroads Communities this week, including 6:30 p.m. this evening at Bradfordsville City Hall and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at New Haven City Hall. For more information, contact Amy Potts at amy@preservationkentucky.org or call (270) 358-9069.
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An agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, the Kentucky Heritage Council / State Historic Preservation Office is responsible for the identification, protection and preservation of historic 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
Preservation Kentucky is a membership based, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Kentucky's historic resources through education and advocacy. Preservation Kentucky provides an important link between the public and private sector and between local communities, state and national government and organizations. Education opportunities are offered throughout the year on timely and import preservation topics. PK also helps monitor and promote preservation-friendly legislation at the local, state, and federal levels. www.preservationkentucky.org
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