Numerous Kentucky Main Street communities and locals were honored by the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet recently for their efforts to foster economic vitality and job creation through historic preservation, including a Guthrie representative.
According to a news release, the Kentucky Main Street program was created in 1979 by the Kentucky Heritage Council State Historic Preservation Office to reverse the economic decline in central business districts through historic preservation and redevelopment of commercial buildings. In the Economic Vitality Initiation, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Andrew Mikowski of Longhurst and Ladell’s on Guthrie Main Street.
In 2023, Kentucky Main Street communities reported $61.4 million in investment in downtown commercial districts. Statewide, communities reported a net gain of 649 of new jobs, 126 new businesses and 223 rehabilitation projects completed.