Therefore, the motorcycle rally planned for Aug. 27 will be held on Chiles Street, which runs parallel to Main Street. The entertainment for the event will be held on the back of the Mercer County Courthouse, rather than the front.
The entertainment scheduled for Olde Towne Park will continue to be held at the park on Main Street.
The rallies are held, board member Randy Couch said, "to raise money to enhance Main Street and bring people to Main Street." However, the car rally only put about $27 in Harrodsburg First's treasury after all the costs were paid.
John Barrington said the motorcycle rally also usually breaks even. Chad Horn said moving the events off of Main Street might bring more people to Main Street merchants. Couch said moving the events will not change them, and Harrodsburg First will carry on with the events just as it always has.
Work continues on Diamond Point, the historic home built in the 1840s at the north entrance to the downtown area. Harrodsburg First purchased the 7,000-square-foot house in 2003 after grants were sought and the purchase price was debated.
The program's board had to borrow about $90,000 from Farmers National Bank to pay for the purchase of the building not covered by federal and state grants, and renovation continues. Board President David Shewmaker said he hopes it will be ready to be occupied by the end of the calendar year.
When the idea to purchase and restore the home first was discussed, it was hoped that non-profit organizations, including the Mercer Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Commission along with Harrodsburg First have offices in the building. The income from rent would help pay the debts incurred in the purchase of the house.
Unsure about move to Diamond Point
However, Harrodsburg First has moved its office to the second floor of City Hall, and the city is not charging rent. Board members said Thursday they are not sure if the organization will move to Diamond Point, since all the money it can raise from rent is needed.
Greg Souder strongly suggested at the meeting that the board begin to seek renters for the building.
"We can't start too soon," he said. "We've got to figure out how to pay for it somehow."
He suggested the board look into attracting governmental agencies to rent offices there.
"There are lots of governmental agencies not in Washington and Frankfort."
The tourist commission already has shown interest in moving its offices there. Souder was cautious about whether other organizations can afford the rent.
"A lot of those non-profits are in the same shape we are," he said today. "They don't have a lot of money to pay rent." He said he does not know if the tourist commission's board will decide to move its offices.
"It would be a perfect fit," Souder said. "With the nature of their operation, that would be a good place to house them. We'd love to have them."
