Raluca Barzu
The Kentucky Standard
Bardstown might receive up to $75,000 next year for its downtown projects.
After a year of little funding, the city's Main Street Program, managed by Rita Riley, was recently re-certified at the state level and is waiting for funding information.
Monday, Kim Huston, Nelson County Economic Development Agency CEO, and Riley will attend a meeting at the state level, in which Governor Ernie Fletcher will explain the usage of funds.
For several years, the Bardstown Main Street program received $15,000 yearly. The city matched the sum to create a full time position for Riley.
Since then, Riley has gone part time because the state money was cut last year.
When Fletcher came into office in 2004, main street programs were renamed Renaissance on Main programs, Huston said.
And it seems like Bardstown will finally be getting money.
Kentucky communities already designated as main street program participants, needed to reapply for the Renaissance on Main program and receive certification, Huston added.
Bardstown re-applied and was certified as a II City, which allows for $75,000 in yearly grants.
“We didn't certify as a ‘one city' because our Main Street manager is part time,” Huston said. “She works extremely hard.”
Should Bardstown hire a manager full time, the city can re-apply to be certified “one city”, which would give the program access to up to $150,000 each year.
It is uncertain what the rules and regulations will be once the money is awarded. It will go into downtown projects but it might be limited to a certain kind of projects.
“We don't yet know what it can be used for,” Huston said.
Downtown merchant Mary Carey, owner of “At Mary's,” said she would like to see more money spent into advertising the downtown shops as a destination for the community as well as tourists.
“I would like to be able to see more commercials advertising the beauty of what we have,” Carey said.
She would like to have a well-groomed downtown with a friendly atmosphere.
There are a lot of businesses downtown that can use that kind of money, Huston added.
She sees the funds being used for creating a more attractive downtown, market research or purchasing new property.
In the past, the downtown committee has applied for grants that allowed for a lot of façade repair and improving the look of downtown Bardstown.
“Our downtown looks so nice because of the state money we received,” Huston said.
Being able to receive up to $75,000 is definitely good news, she added.
“We are excited, it is a good amount.”
Raluca Barzu can be reached at 348-9003 Ext. 114, or by e-mail at rbarzu@bardstowncable.net.
