sweet owen + downtown
Downtown REVIVAL SUBMITTED The Downtown Owenton Revival is pleased to announce the acquisition of the former Rexall Building as part of its comprehensive downtown revitalization efforts. In 2019, Touchstone Electric Cooperatives launched a nationwide competition called the “Co-op Community Contest.” More than 165 nominations were received for the competition. The nomination by Owen Electric Cooperative, on behalf of the Downtown Owenton Revival Project, was selected as the winner of “The Game Plan.” The Prize Package for “The Game Plan” consisted of access to an economic development planning process led by consultant Lorie Vincent, CEcD, President of ACCELERATION by design LLC. The process included onsite consultation meetings and conference calls to develop an informed and dynamic plan for the revitalization of downtown Owenton. The comprehensive plan developed by the Downtown Owenton Revival team consisted of a variety of initiatives, including downtown aesthetics, business development, streetscapes, events, living space, retail, building rehabilitation, historic preservation, and more. In addition, Golden Shovel Marketing Agency, a partner of Touchstone Electric Cooperatives, provided insight into additional marketing outreach for the Downtown Owenton Revival Project. For generations, small towns have served as the cultural and economic centers for surrounding rural areas. Their physical and social fabric re-
18 sweetowenmag.com + winter 2021
p TRAVIS DUVALL, a lineman with Owen Electric Cooperative, assists the Downtown Owenton Revival committee during a recent workday at the former Rexall building on West Seminary Street. The capstone project of the Downtown Owenton Revival effort is the rehabilitation of the building. — Photo by Trace Duvall
flects the community’s unique history and identity. Changing economic conditions and demographics create challenges for rural downtowns. Despite these challenges, some communities remain vibrant places, attractive to residents and visitors alike by leveraging their physical, cultural and economic assets and investing in a community-based vision, attractive streetscapes, community engagement and effective marketing. Recent major reinvestment taking place in several downtown buildings, new businesses relocating to the downtown area and dynamic city-led aesthetic projects make this the perfect time to launch a coordinated and aggressive downtown revitalization program for the benefit of the residents of Owenton and visitors alike. The capstone project of the Downtown Owenton Revival effort is the rehabilitation of the former Rexall Building. The building ownership has
been transferred to the Downtown Owenton Revival Committee which serves as a non-profit catalyst for downtown revitalization. The first workday on the building was held Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Future workdays will be scheduled, and a variety of supplies are needed to help in the revitalization of the structure. You may send your cash donations to Downtown Owenton Revival, P.O. Box 474, Owenton, KY 40359, or you can drop a check by City Hall. All donations of supplies, cash and in-kind services are tax-deductible, and a receipt can be provided upon request. Please contact any of the Downtown Owenton Revival Committee members for more information: Jenni Duncan, Whitney Duvall, Jill Dunavent, Clark Roberts, Judge Casey Ellis or Lorie Vincent. Please follow the Downtown Owenton Revival Facebook page for updates about this exciting project. v
