Anthony Cloud

Staff Writer

New Discover Downtown Middlesboro (DDM) Director Issac Kramer addressed Middlesboro City Council during the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday. Kramer gave the council an update on happenings within the organization.

One project Kramer mentioned was the downtown Middlesboro Angel Project. The angel project is a result of the partnership between DDM and Middlesboro ARH (MARH). The Christmas angels are located throughout downtown, according to Kramer.

These four-foot wooden angels were decorated by Middlesboro students, businesses, churches and MARH staff. Individuals can vote for their favorite angel on Survey Monkey. Voting will end on Jan. 5. The angel with the most votes will be named the Middlesboro Angel of Light.

The winning angel and the name(s) of the decorators will be announced on Jan. 10 on the DDM website of the MARH website.

Following the holiday season, Kramer said the angels will be auctioned off for the benefit of the New Born Baby room in the obstetrics wing of the hospital.

Kramer also stated DDM had submitted a $10,000 grant to the Center of Rural Development. If acquired, it will help DDM create a strategic plan for downtown. It would also allow the organization to bring in a national expert to facilitate the process, according to Kramer.

DDM will hear about the status of the grant in January. If awarded, DDM will have to put up $2,500 of its own money as a match requirement.

Kramer announced DDM had adopted a new downtown boundary, which encompasses a 40-block area. Within the area, Kramer said there are 200 businesses.

DDM is looking to place over $100,000 in grants in the upcoming summer, Kramer reported to the council. There are also plans for DDM to develop a new work plan. The plan will include a mission, vision and goals.

As for the recent the Christmas parade, Kramer predicts 2,500 to 3,000 people attended.

Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via email at acloud@heartlandpublications.com or by phone at 606-248-1010, ext. 208.