♪ ♪ >> It's beautiful.

It's one of the few riverfront towns that still so vibrant.

We take a trip to Western Kentucky, exploring a city known for its culture craft and cuisine.

>> We like to say that we're everything you like about Kentucky all in one place.

>> And see how all businesses and new ideas have helped create a thriving downtown in Campbellsville.

>> I loved transforming something that was broken into something that could live again.

And I know that is where my passion is today.

Plus, turning passion into profit.

Make the pain queen of Kentucky who was putting the small community of Taylorsville.

>> On the map.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to a special edition of Kentucky Edition.

We hope you had a good day.

>> I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Tonight.

We're highlighting cities across the state that of under taken steps to grow stronger economies and communities.

>> It's at the heart of our series Mondays on Maine.

Our first stop Paducah, the seat of McCracken County as our Laura Rogers shows us, it's home to museums, restaurants, shopping, arts and culture and so much of Western Kentucky's heritage.

♪ >> Should Sarah Bradley is known to many for her success on the television series.

Top chef.

But hear in Paducah was a home down girl.

Paducah has this really just great.

>> Energy about it.

I'm a champion for pretty good.

When I'm making a decision.

It is.

Will it be good for me will be good for my family and will it be good for my city?

>> She opened her restaurant freight house in 2015 offering farm to table dining and western Kentuckyian Ohio Valley.

>> Working with the seasons is something that's very important to me.

I think there's a food tastes better.

I think it's better for our environment.

>> Bradley's culinary offerings are inspired by her upbringing.

I have Appalachia and Jewish roots.

Bradley's television acclaim competing most recently on top Chef World.

All Stars restaurant draws fans from far and why they come for the food and then they end up staying for the pre-teen and the art and the UNESCO designation and all the other bars and shops and restaurants downtown.

>> It is the goal of Paducah, Main Street to make them feel welcome.

>> It's not too big.

It's not too small.

It's one of those kind of town.

We still have that small-town mentality.

>> And that kind of lean on each other attitude that I don't think you always get the merger cities.

There's much to appreciate about downtown Paducah from the riverfront to retail with an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and nightlife.

>> It's beautiful.

It's one of the few riverfront towns that still so vibrant says Edwards has been a downtown merchants for a couple of decades.

She seen a lot of change during that time and is pleased with the progress.

It's just such a wonderful economic area.

It's fun.

People come to visit and see what we're doing down here.

Visitors make up a large portion of the downtown customer base.

Most of our businesses say around 80 to 90% of their clientele is for us.

We're in a great position between like Nashville and St. Louis.

So we get lots of people traveling through.

They're drawn to attractions like the national Polls Museum and the historic Lower town arts district.

Their creativity is on full display.

I love the vibrancy and the culture down here and I love being part of the cultural fabric of our downtown western Kentucky native Landy.

Bryant studied at Murray State University before moving to the do get in 2002 when the arts district was being conceptualize stay gave artists incentives to create build work like live work spaces, studios and galleries, and that revitalize that community.

Big time.

So that brought artist and I think that had a trickle down effect with the city, the school of Art design her shop brick, a lost art collective is what she describes as an outside the box collection of unique art and things that represents the community.

She loves so much.

I also want to make Paducah Place.

I want to continue to live really focused on creating craft cocktails.

Whitney Wallace Center has been Tyler had the Johnson Bar really exploring the different world.

Modality is in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic coffee cocktails.

Just anything that's crafted in a little bit of original.

They created the nonprofit, beautiful Paducah to support programs, festivals and events that encourage city growth.

>> With a lot more creativity flowing, a lot more unique business is coming down here and in a little bit more diversity and hopefully will be on the way.

It's already started creeping in.

So it feels good.

It feels like we're headed somewhere.

That makes me proud.

Downtown merchants meet monthly to discuss events improvements and collaboration.

The Duke of Main Street's goal is to have every storefront occupied.

We also inform people of the historic tax credits that they can apply for local say the historic character and a culture of downtown is part of its charm.

I love Market House Square where my shop is located.

It is but pave streets and goes back to the 18.

100's honoring the past while looking ahead to the future, the vision of those who are passionate about Paducah.

>> I am just so proud to be from here.

I'm really proud to always show it off.

I say Paducah on the TV as much as they can.

So we do get the coveted that come to you guys.

>> Say that fast.

3 times, right?

Thank you, Laura.

Next, a trip to Crestwood in Oldham County in the North central part of the state.

The town center is adding a traditional Main street, which city leaders hope will draw in visitors who are looking for a hallmark moment.

Oldham County consist of 6 small towns.

>> Probably the most famous most popular would be LaGrange.

And that's because the train that runs the range.

>> But most people don't know about the other 5 cities in the county Crestwood is the fastest growing town in Kentucky.

And it had been until this year for the last probably 4 or 5 years.

It's been interesting just to kind of watch over the years how it's grown in that.

>> There there isn't a whole lot East Louisville and LaGrange.

So not a whole lot to stop and do for a one-stop shop.

So there's things sprinkle here and there.

But we really want Crestwood to be a destination.

And because there's not a traditional Main street here when we Spurs started talking to the mayor about what the plans were, he said, well, let me tell you that my vision, he said, is to make this a Hallmark movie type of town.

And so we want to create what is that traditional Main street feeling?

And we said we would love to help you do that.

Crestwood is getting ready to explode with new development, new attractions, new Restaurants Baptist Hospital has signed on to come to the Crestwood exit off 71, which would be the Crestwood exit, the Maples Park has become what will be the city center of Crestwood.

So that Park has developed its finish.

Now, finally, it has a splash pad.

It has an ampitheater that was just installed and that was the last phase.

And that's where all the traffic will going to from what will be our Main Street.

Crestwood Mercantile is an example of the perfect new type of business that will attract a crest with it's vintage its original artwork, its oil paintings.

It's brand-new.

Where's it's art?

It's crafts.

Its booths that it's part of the excitement of what Chris with Mercantile is for Crestwood.

It's really a team effort for a community come together like this.

So many of our vendors, our Oldham County residents.

>> And so they're happy to be able to stay in their home town and shop and eat.

And so just to create more of that.

So really it's about coming together as a community and a team to build.

>> That kind of community here that that didn't previously exist.

So I'm excited about all the businesses I'm excited to be able to walk everywhere and you don't have to drive.

I'm excited about new boutiques, a new restaurants and being walking distance from home.

>> To be able to walk out of your front door and go eat dinner or go to the park is a fabulous concept.

I think so.

We want people be able to come to Crestwood to be able to dine here, to shop here, to spend the day here.

So our hope is that there are other business owners that come alongside and say, yes, we want to be part of that will help you do that so that this will be a one-stop.

>> Shopping and eating destination for people all over.

>> Campbellsville has been called a Kentucky central.

That's because the seat of Taylor County is situated less than 90 minutes from major cities, historical sites and a popular state park that sees a million visitors a year after losing thousands of jobs in the late 1990's, the city found its center by building up the old and inviting in the new.

>> You know, we like to say that where everything you like about Kentucky all in one place.

Campbellsville was like many communities that went through a time where they downtown's were dwindling.

We lost a major employer here of 4,000 jobs from for those willing left in 1998.

That was a major blow to our community.

>> There's been a lot of comings and Lot of businesses that didn't survive.

Seemed like a ghost town down here that was tumble weeds blowing down the street.

>> Even we were told that we need to move.

But other people and the people in the community that tells were not a place to go.

The more we need to go to Koam.

I think the idea that is if we if we had moved, we would have been gone years ago, we would have survived.

>> We rebounded quickly with the acquisition of Amazon.

The first Amazon distribution center was located in Campbellsville in Kentucky.

And from other industries came.

And from that, we saw the revitalization of Main Street come back, the reinvest, the main street from property owners and business owners.

>> The community has been amazing and supported us through the years.

I mean, they come here.

They know Mitchell's us, you know, 114 years old.

They can't go anywhere else.

We've outlived JC Penney's.

Do I hear gordmans all of those business to come and gone.

We are blessed with >> a number of local businesses who have made it to 60 years, 70 years won over 100 years that have remained in business in downtown Campbellsville for that time period.

So we started 1910.

It and some Boyce.

>> then we decided on our 100th birthday that we were going to add, sir, one wreck of ladies just Warren reckoned.

Just see how it was.

And it grew and grew and grew.

>> We love to help make people's I know.

Sounds tacky would love to help make people's dreams come true and we can do that quite a bit.

>> SAS and then the longevity success.

I think that's why we've been here for over 75 years since 1948.

>> When other business people walk up and down Main Street and they see a business that's been in Campbellsville for 70 years.

They see that they can survive and they can thrive here as well.

>> There's definitely a lot of hesitation about opening a business, you know, especially in the post-pandemic world.

I came here to go to college.

So I went to college and I thought for sure I would move away at that But we decided to stay here.

Me and my husband.

And so we've put down roots here in Campbellsville.

>> I just I fell in love with Campbellsville.

We started in the small over on court street about 2 years ago.

We had the opportunity to move into this beautiful, wonderful space.

so we stepped out making another big decision to go into a place that was almost 3 times the size of what we we're in.

>> We're always looking for new and unique businesses that are interested in our community and are willing to do, you know, the type of things that you need to do in order to to make our community more attractive?

Brandon Berry is I like to call it a place that is all things magical >> unique things that you wouldn't find in most stores, things that strip creativity and imagination and things that would be inspiring 2 individuals.

We decided to kind of post-pandemic that there's a need in our area a place to go to fund local artwork.

>> And to find local artists from our area, though we have about 50 artists in our store.

Most of them are from Kentucky.

And then we have a few outside of Kentucky.

We are in your business.

We've only been here about a year and a half, but the other businesses I've always been very supportive and helpful.

We all try to support each other in that We all try to shop locally ourselves.

Our community supports our downtown.

They they're appreciative.

>> Of our downtown.

Do they recognize what we have?

There are some of our best salesman because, you know, they they spread the word and the word goes out.

And so all of our businesses thrive because the community and they have the you know, they want to be downtown.

We walked the streets.

They enjoy it.

>> Like Campbellsville the city of Pine Double and Bell County also saw thousands of jobs disappear with a loss of a major industry.

Adding to the hardship, natural disasters hit the area.

The city was almost devastated, but it is bouncing back with plans to transform its downtown and bring in new businesses.

>> In 1977, there was a huge flood that destroyed most of downtown and most of the surrounding area.

And that seems like a really long time ago.

But I can remember going to the look out upon come out and looking at it was like looking like so it has overcome a lot.

And we have lost like the coal-mining business, which was the main supporter, I guess, of the economic part.

So it has gone through a lot and we want to see it just re Bob.

Basically we were the actually move business to open.

>> And downtown, how will we went through the Main Street incentive program that they had?

>> Mainstreet Com Bull group of individuals and small businesses and businesses around town that we're looking great revived downtown and still preserve its history.

>> And we and open in time will because the Rams socials lot lower.

You know where you can afford it and still make money.

>> Before you could come down and after everybody had gotten home from work after 5 o'clock, you might not see a car.

>> You know, on the straight away for soap and a lot of these buildings were bike, it lower, So to say this many businesses around the Squire, but it's a big improvement from what it was 8 years ago.

>> I ended up here my style is actually she was getting ready to open her salon here and wanted to know if I would come on.

And when it ever in a little space than I did and >> now I'm going on 5 years full time.

>> We started at the beginning when COVID hit.

We was doing to live up to my wife and I we were redoing this building.

So we were working restaurant.

>> And on the move I think the first phase was mostly what you don't say.

It was like the underground pop work and things like that.

The second part will be more of a modernization of the streets will be nice.

The sidewalks will be nice.

So we're going to go more for like Their work with, you know, my house just different things that brings you back to an elder or be nudged time.

And that's to feel that we're going for.

I think, though, that was all the work sent an open well worth it.

>> I would like to continue growing help allay have and a second location in the future.

And as for humble, I hope they KET bringing in more of our small businesses and KET going or small town.

>> People in this community have supported us tremendously.

I you would think that I was born and raised in part to tell you.

>> What more businesses in town to help save or one.

So there's a lot.

While no businesses in town, this is the most I've ever saying in my life.

I was in Covington and met a couple from North Carolina.

>> And they had already been to China Rock.

So, you know, pass through and they'll get to enjoy it for the day.

But we're trying to make this a destination place.

And I think we're on the right path for that.

>> Now we had to Southcentral Kentucky.

It's the first Kentucky City.

You come to traveling north on I-65 Franklin.

The seat of Simpson County is just 45 miles from Nashville and quickly growing what remains the same, however, is the southern charm of the downtown home to retail and restaurants are.

Laura Rogers is our tour guide.

>> From race Horses to Bourbon, Franklin is big on Kentucky.

Heritage.

>> The location is paramount because we sit on I-65 between national in Bowling Green and we have so many travelers that travel I-65 every day.

>> And many of them stop at the Franklin exit.

John, to attractions like Kentucky Downs and dueling grounds.

Distillery people want to see horses when they come to Kentucky.

People want to see bourbon as of the 2 things they usually mainly think of.

So we have both of those here.

It's also the home of professional golfer Kenny Perry who owns a golf course in Franklin.

Kenny has brought a lot of notoriety to Kentuckyian especially to Franklin.

>> Was just a good person.

And that is really important.

I think in he kind of exudes that small town family charm that we have here in Franklin.

Amy Ellis is executive director of the Simpson County Tourism Commission.

Before that, she spent several years at the helm of Franklin Simpson Renaissance, which evolved out of the main street program.

Our Main Street is essentially 31 that so our Main Street runs from the north and to the south and will actually do the state line here in Franklin.

But our hearts of our Main Street is our downtown.

Each year.

We try to do in a project.

Kim Roberts now leads Franklin Simpson Renaissance Franklin is a growing tale.

She and Amy Ellis often collaborate to support downtown revitalization.

We work really close with the merchants to try to help their businesses grow.

>> Bringing new businesses and the department is on the part of my job is keeping the downtown pretty, you know, through beautification.

Nearly a decade ago, efforts ramped up to save historic buildings on the square.

>> Will investors renovating those buildings to bring new life and newcomers to Main Street?

Total renovation.

Pull bricks off the building.

Brick by brick, clean them and put them back on the building.

>> That led to the sale of more historic properties.

So we've so about 12 buildings downtown and have seen major innovations in those 12 buildings in the last 10 years.

Opening a small business does carry financial risk and much of their focus remains on supporting downtown merchants.

It's hard.

It's hard for new businesses in a small town.

>> They have to have that ability to hang own during some pretty hard times before they reach that goal of heaven, regular customers, that would become the idea behind the mustard seed market.

>> We just tell you the story.

Haha.

Mustard seed market actually came about from a conversation that my mom and I have had to make.

Harry and Amy Ellis said travel to other cities similar to the size of Franklin to see what they were doing to get people downtown.

We walked in the front doors.

I just looked Mina said this is the coolest place I've ever been.

>> That business and Gallatin Tennessee would become the inspiration for mustard seed market.

I just made the comment.

I said I wish we had something like that in Franklin and mom, look at me.

And she said, well, let's open mind.

>> 8 years ago they did providing vendors space for small businesses, not quite ready to invest or move full-time to their own shop.

And I feel like it just gives small businesses the opportunity to really start out to kind of figure out the business and then hopefully be able to grow into their own storefront.

Kerry says she saw a major push to shop local and small during the pandemic in 2021, we saw an upsurge in sales and we're doing great and we've kind of plateaued after that to draw more foot traffic.

Franklin Simpson Renaissance host downtown events, including summer concerts that draw thousands of people to the historic district.

>> This really could fans were getting bigger every year, even though we're small.

We're big, small town, big parts.

But we're always known for.

>> We can make big things happen in this town.

And the reason being in because we have a lot of dedicated true Franklin people that love our town.

We all love our town.

We want to see it grow.

We want to see.

>> All of our businesses.

16 when all comes together to create an atmosphere that he was both locals and tourists coming back.

I know.

>> Know that if we hadn't flipped our downtown over and made it a little bit more accessible to people and more inviting to people that maybe we haven't had that success for Kentucky edition.

>> I'm Laura Rogers.

Small town with a big heart.

Thank you, Laura.

>> We've heard about efforts by city leaders to bring jobs and revitalize their communities.

But in Taylor's Ville, Kentucky, it's an entrepreneur or that's putting her city on the map.

Forbes magazine calls Paula Blankenship, the Queen of paint.

And so to her 7 million followers on social media.

Our Kelsey Starks brings us the story of her success.

>> People use this product to repair their boat seats in paint them.

So this so you don't have to go buy new ones.

Paula Blankenship has always had a pass.

And for making all things new again.

>> I'd rather remodel home then build a brand new one with unlimited amount of money.

Get more fun and more pleasure out of seeing something old.

Resuscitate back to another life.

You know that to me is a rewarding thing.

Some of the site is going to totally take care of this.

>> Money can fix anything, but it takes a little ingenuity and little craftiness to fix something that might not be perfect into something that looks fantastic.

So that's where my passion lives.

>> That passion took a little time to uncover after dropping out of high school.

She worked full-time in our own business retail store.

She opened with her sister.

My parents were entrepreneur role and they always own their own businesses.

And I just grew up around that.

My grandparents were also entrepreneurs.

That is exactly who I am.

I'm cut from that cloth.

>> But paint wasn't the clock is she envisioned, although she was a natural entrepreneur, the single mom and her teenage son moved from Tennessee to Kentucky.

Were she started selling paint as a natural complement to her design and floor covering business, a side gig to KET her son busy and involved.

>> And my goal is to sell $100 a day and paint.

So that put it on e-bay and all of a sudden it was selling $250 a day.

And I was like, wow, this stuff must be good.

But Paulo was just getting started.

She found selling 2 retailers wasn't working as planned.

There was a learning curve and her customers were getting stuck.

So she changed her canvas.

We decided then if we can fix this product and not make this something that had to be topped.

But to make it super easy more easy.

Then what these guys are selling and help them solve some of the mystery here.

We did that with all my pain.

We're going to show you how to use those bundle pieces right here during this live heirloom traditions.

Paint was born with the help of a chemist.

She crafted a page that could do well everything.

So we had several formulas back and forth that we're not the winner.

And when we finally got there, it had to be flexible.

It had to be extremely durable.

It had to take you the other words ahead to the exterior rated.

It had just had to shut off water.

It had to be a lot of things.

So we got there with this.

A beautiful formula that we have today and have this paint the paint literally everything from leather.

As a showed you leather front door, it will paint is convertible top on your car to the car seats to your cabinets.

All those things together.

Create a brand as they are today, creating the brand was one thing.

Getting it to customers was another.

>> Just as sales started to pick up the pandemic, forced another color change amid supply chain issues and shutdowns Paula and her team turned to social media.

Thank you for joining us here on our video about her think cabinets and using the all of the products.

We're going to show you some quick tips on how to get started.

Rejuvenating and renewing your kitchen.

>> Let's let's use Facebook live as our QB see to the world.

If we're going to teach how to use the products that sell it to the people that matters.

>> If I want to show you how to use it, I'm going to be the conduit to sell it to you.

And we're going to show you how easy this thing works and how quickly that you can get great coverage and sure enough our lives changed overnight and then about a three-month time period.

We went from barely Robin nickels together to moving to this location.

>> Now with 7 million followers on social media.

Paula is a bona fide celebrity and the DIY world.

She has a loyal Facebook group of half a million people.

Many of them traveled to visit her facility in Taylorsville.

>> And Taylorsville had a will for people who wanted to work in their hometown.

So we came here.

We turn this into an esop store.

Employees are owners and that is the sweetest thing we've ever done.

Going back to her roots, making something old new again for Kentucky edition.

I'm Kelsey Starks.

That's great.

Thank you, Kelsey and thank you for watching Kentucky EDITION today.

>> We hope that you subscribe to our e-mail newsletters and watch full episodes and clips of K E T Dot Org.

Check us out on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV and look for KET.

All the ways you see on your screen there, Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Thanks for joining us tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Take good care.

♪