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Community leaders initiated Harrodsburg First in
1986 as a division of the Harrodsburg-Mercer
County Landmark Association, Inc., Harrodsburg
First was established to implement and
administer a comprehensive downtown
revitalization program under the National Main
Street Program’s philosophy and approach.
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Since Harrodsburg’s selection as a State
Main Street Town through the Kentucky
Heritage Council in 1988, positive and
consistent steps have been taken to
encourage this revitalization and economic’
restructuring within the context of historic
preservation.
Harrodsburg First’s mission states that a
healthy downtown is vital for an entire
community’s economic well being. A healthy
downtown environment shows a pride in the entire
community while a declining downtown gives the
impression of a community without vitality.
Harrodsburg First believes that our heritage and
identity in downtown is the historic, social,
cultural and political core of our community.
Harrodsburg has local lending institutions, a
post office, library, multiple merchants and
service agencies, city and county government
offices all within walking distance of Main
Street which creates a wonderful and diverse
gathering place for all residents.
HISTORY
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In the mid 1980’s the
Harrodsburg/Mercer County Landmark
Association commissioned a study to
better understand business and
consumer needs within the downtown
district. This study underlined the
importance of downtown
revitalization and led the Landmark
Association to pursue establishment
of a Main Street Program through the
Kentucky Heritage Council.
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Harrodsburg First, a non-profit agency, was
established in 1988 to serve the revitalization
and economic needs of downtown. City and county
governments, local lending institutions,
industry, small business, community
organizations and private citizens made a
commitment to bring life back to downtown
Harrodsburg.
Since Harrodsburg’s inclusion in the Main Street
Program, the community has been awarded various
grants to help renovate the design of Main
Street as well as promote economic vitality. In
the years since its inception the Main Street
program has been responsible for placement of
over 130 historic light poles which exactly
resemble the street lighting of Harrodsburg
circa 1900. Overhead wiring has been removed, a
45 space parking lot created and a community
park built. A 14’ x 32’ waterfall, reflecting
the characteristic of the nearby Kentucky
Palisades, is the centerpiece of the park and
each year many community events are hosted in
this space.
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In 1998 Harrodsburg was designated a
Kentucky Renaissance Gold Level
community. The Renaissance
initiative was designed to honor and
recognize communities that have made
their downtowns more inviting and
attractive. Gold Level status is the
highest level possible and is based
on how well a community maintains
their central downtown as a
prosperous economic core. |
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Inclusion in the Renaissance program enables
Harrodsburg to draw from numerous resources
including state agencies such as the Kentucky
Housing Corporation, Kentucky League of Cities
and the Kentucky Heritage Council. Since 1998,
Harrodsburg has been awarded over substantial
moneys for improvements to the Renaissance area
including infrastructural improvement.
While Harrodsburg has been fortunate to receive
generous awards and shows a visionary resolve
toward downtown revitalization, the work is far
from over. We have many ambitious and necessary
projects ahead of us in the coming years. With
continued community support our 19th Century
Main Street will persevere for centuries to
come! |
