BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Two abandoned buildings on Main Street in Inez are getting a facelift as part of Martin County’s “Revival on Main Street” effort.
Local leaders say the structures at 42 East Main Street are too damaged to be restored and will eventually need to be torn down and rebuilt. In the meantime, they did not want Main Street to remain rundown while they wait for larger projects. They say they found a “practical, low-cost way to make a big impact, cover up blight and boost community pride, use the building to promote tourism, small business and the county’s new tourism brand.”
“You don’t always need a million dollars to make a big difference,” Martin County Deputy Judge and EDA director Carolea Mills said. “These buildings had been sitting empty for over four decades. Rebuilding will take time and big grant dollars, but we didn’t want Main Street to keep looking forgotten. With just a small grant, a little paint and a vision, we turned an eyesore into a message of hope and progress. It didn’t cost a lot, but it made a big difference.”
With about $5,000 from the Local Government Economic Development Fund (LGEDF) and a $1,200 Lowe’s grant, the project added paint, lighting and window features, transforming the exteriors into bright, welcoming displays.
The project also involved local students from the Martin County High School carpentry program. Students helped craft custom wooden window boxes, giving them real-world experience in community development. Leaders say involving the students was important because it allows them to take pride in improving their own Main Street.
One building now features signage displaying “VisitMartinCountyKY.com,” the county’s new tourism website. The neighboring building will become a visitors guide wall, pointing travelers to where they can eat, shop, stay and explore.
“Main Street is the front door to Martin County,” Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty said. “This facelift shows we care about how we present ourselves to our own people and to visitors. This isn’t the finish line; it’s the first step.”
Economic Development Authority leadership says this is the beginning.
“We know these buildings will eventually be replaced with new commercial space that supports small business and tourism,” EDA chairman James Ayers said. “But for now, we’ve created something positive out of something forgotten, and that’s how real revival begins.”
Mills said the storefronts encourage visitors to explore local attractions such as Milo Lake, First Frontier ATV Trails, Ray Fields Park & Pool, Big Chair Trail, Elk and outdoor viewing spots, as well as local shops, diners, and future business sites. She added that more improvements are on the way as county leaders hope to secure additional grant funding to rebuild this block of Main Street with new storefronts, business space and possibly upper-level rentals.
