W’burg Main Street needs business not ‘lipstick’

October 09, 2008 09:00 am

— Our new street lights are being installed on Main Street. I admit, they look like they are going to help beautify the downtown.
Recently, Dr. Susan Weaver from University of the Cumberlands and myself walked the downtown putting up posters to promote the Big Read program. It struck me again, just how many empty and abandoned storefronts we had in town. All the beautification in the world only amounts to “putting lipstick on a corpse” in this situation.
Several years ago, when I was working with the Main Street Program, John Stewart and I attended a workshop on economic revitalization of Main Streets. I believe we should host such a workshop in the community, with the help of Roger Stapleton at the Kentucky Heritage Council, and generate interest in helping to create or recruit businesses to our downtown.
No, we can’t compete with Wal-Mart and Goodwill, but there are things we can do! I, for one, believe it’s worth a try. I will take this idea to the Williamsburg Action Team Board at our next meeting and discuss it with Mayor Harrison.
If you are interested, please let me know.
Marian Colette,
Williamsburg Action Team 524-4658 or 549-5363