With Discover Downtown Middlesboro becoming Middlesboro Main Street, the new leadership is thinking of new ways to keep the community informed and engaged in happenings and developments around the city.

A special Community Forum will be hosted by Middlesboro Main Street on July 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Alexander Arthur Museum located downtown. The museum is also the headquarters of Bell County Tourism and Middlesboro Main Street respectively.

Part of bettering a community is hearing from the citizens and making them aware of what is planned for the city they live in — and that is one of the goals for this forum.

Middlesboro Main Street asks the community to “come gather with us to share ideas, talk about our shared vision, get updates, ask questions and more.”

The director of Middlesboro Main Street, Emily Ayers, plans to have these Community Forums every month moving forward.

“We want to start doing it monthly. We are interested in hearing from the community what their vision is for our downtown. We also want to answer any questions and give updates (on ongoing projects),” she said.

Those who attend can expect to hear updates on the ongoing projects concerning the Elks Home and the Brownsfield Grant, among others.

“We would like to create an environment where the community feels comfortable coming to the Main Street office,” said Ayers.

Light refreshments will be provided at the meeting for all who attend.