Middlesboro Main Street and Bell County Tourism will be hosting a second meeting in regards to the upcoming mural painting in Downtown Middlesboro.

“We are looking for community input on the design of our Downtown Mural. We want to know what you think would look best on the wall of Cumberland Avenue and 19th St,” Middlesboro Main Street Director Emily Ayers said. “If you are an artist interested in being hired you are welcome to bring your portfolio of previous Mural Work. We will only be looking at experienced Mural Artist for this specific project.”

There will be a public forum on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. to discuss ideas for the mural project.

In August, Middlesboro Main Street was awarded a grant from the Promise Zone Downtown Revitalization Grant in the total amount of $60,548. The grant is the result of an effort from the Bell County Downtown Coalition to continue the revitalization project in the downtown communities.

The Bell County Downtown Coalition consists of Middlesboro Main Street, Bell County Tourism, Main Street Pineville, and Bell County Chamber of Commerce.

The grant will be awarded by the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, on behalf of CEDIK (University of Kentucky – Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky

The grant will be used for several different aesthetic and wayfinding improvements that aim to help draw people and businesses into our downtowns from Highway 25E. It includes new wayfinding signage for Middlesboro, as well as banners on Hwy 25E and murals in both downtowns.

According to Middlesboro Main Street, the mural in downtown Middlesboro will be massive and will cover the entire side of the Tamer Building on Cumberland Avenue. This is the location of the old Sterchi’s Building and is currently where the banner for ragtime innovator Ben Harney is hanging.

“This grant will be a major breath of fresh air to our downtown,” Ayers said. “The addition of new wayfinding signage and banners on highway 25E will help inform passersby of all the great things in our downtown, and the gigantic new mural will be one that captures the imagination of our beautiful area.”