BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Martin County Tourism Board and the Big Sandy Area Development District have applied for a $4.8 million AMLER grant to revitalize historic sites, chairman Nita Collier announced during a tourism board meeting April 15.

Collier informed board members that the grant would be used to complete renovations of the old courthouse, including the commercial kitchen and the vacant offices on the first floor, as well as the old jail and a pavilion. This pavilion would be located between the Martin County Government Center and the old courthouse.

“That’s the street there,” Collier said, pointing toward Court/Shop Street. “We’re hoping to close it off and construct a pavilion in that space that would extend all the way to the stage area.”

She added that traffic would still be able to circle the old courthouse and government center via Opportunity Drive.

The board is also progressing with other projects, including a mural on the Masonic Lodge, way-finding signage, an elk viewing station and more.

Collier announced that the board hopes to have Inez designated as a historic district, specifically including the Rockcastle Church, the old Inez Bank building, and the Cain Hotel. The Martin County Economic Development owns the old church and bank building, while Leonard and Lisa Stayton own the Cain Hotel.

Board member Linda Lou Webb provided an update on the Christmas in the Mountains (CITM) festival, noting that the festival had utilized every available space for storing decorations. The City of Inez provides CITM with $50 a month to cover storage rental costs for a space on Main Street. Recently, that space became unavailable, and the decorations were moved to the old firehouse at the Martin County Health Department. The committee plans to use the city’s $50 to pay the health department for the space.

CITM also has decorations stored above the old Ford dealership and at the old Inez Motel.

Webb announced that this year, CITM would conduct a Facebook “share-and-like” giveaway, with the prize being a night at the newly converted Airbnb, Creekside Cottage, in Inez.