Editing Middlesboro, Kentucky (section)

===Present-day===
[[File:Distant view of Middlesboro, KY.jpg|thumb|right|210px|View of Middlesboro from Cumberland Gap National Historical Park]]
{{anchor|21st century}}
Currently, Middlesboro is investing in downtown revitalization to help create new business and give the city a better image. In 2004, Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc. (DDM), was formed to promote and lead the revamping of the historic downtown area. Since its inception, Discover Downtown Middlesboro has helped numerous businesses receive a facelift and has restored the historic Fountain Square in downtown. The organization also helps to create awareness of the city's grand and regal past. Numerous large-scaled [[sepia (color)|sepia]] murals are placed throughout downtown, paying homage to the founder of Middlesboro, his wife, and other historic points in the history of Middlesboro. DDM also hosts numerous events for the community and the tri-state area that are free to the public, one of the most popular includes the Downtown Ducky Dash and Block Party. DDM oversees all projects that take place within the downtown area and has plans to create brick stamped crosswalks at Fountain Square. Ultimately, they plan to make the historic downtown area more pedestrian-friendly with more benches, bike racks, planters, and streetscape improvements in the works. Recently, the organization has applied for nearly $1 million in grant money for the purpose of preservation and development of the general downtown district. Currently, DDM has invested in a Preservation Plan, which should be unveiled in September 2013. This plan, once complete, will outline the plans for the revitalization of downtown Middlesboro, help create a brand for the downtown area, as well help lay a foundation to preserve the rich architectural details in the downtown historic district.

In June 2011 a severe flash flood damaged many homes and businesses in Middlesboro. Following a rainfall of {{convert|8.5|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 48 hours, the waterways could not cope with the deluge. Two area residents perished in the flood, and dozens were left homeless. The downtown area was one of the hardest hit areas in the city. At one point during the rain event, enough water was present throughout the entire downtown area that vehicles were completely submerged. For many hours after the flood, travel in and around the city was very difficult due to large amounts of standing water in the basin that Middlesboro is built in. A few days afterwards, [[list of governors of Kentucky|Governor]] [[Steve Beshear]] toured the area and formally declared it a disaster, permitting state funds to be used in rebuilding.

In April 2012, Middlesboro became the first city in the United States to have a community-wide organic garden, which features 60 raised-bed gardens that will be used to grow food for people in the community. Some beds are even disability accessible. The beds will be given out on a first come, first served basis. The food that is grown in the beds will help to reduce costs for families in need, and can be donated to people in need or sold to local restaurants. The community organic garden was made possible through the City of Middlesboro, Bell County Health Department, and several donors and volunteers. Middlesboro is currently working to become one of the first cities in Kentucky to be a certified Trail Town. The Mayor, along with the City Council, showed support and took initiative in becoming a certified Trail Town. This feat will be a collaboration between the Bell County Tourism Commission, Bell County Adventure Tourism, Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Bell County Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Middlesboro.

Middlesboro was featured on the [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]]'s television series ''[[How the States Got Their Shapes]]'' in the episode "Forces of Nature". The city also featured in one of the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Wonders of the Solar System]]'' episodes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://middlesborodailynews.com/bookmark/3237109|first=Stephen|last=Woodward|date=August 2009|access-date=5 November 2011|title=BBC comes to the 'Crater'|work=Middlesboro Daily News|location=Middlesboro, Kentucky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008163948/http://middlesborodailynews.com/bookmark/3237109|archive-date=8 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Good Morning America]]'' honored the Middlesboro-Bell County Library for participating in the "52 Weeks of Giving" program on May 27, 2013.

On September 15, 2015, Middlesboro held an election to allow alcohol production and retail in the city limits. Previously, all of [[Bell County, Kentucky|Bell County]] had been [[Dry county|dry]] except for the special circumstance of a state park in [[Pineville, Kentucky]]. Allowing alcohol in the city would make Bell County a Moist County. The vote passed 1,298-yes to 1,179-no.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Middlesboro-votes-yes-to-become-moist-town-327786481.html|title = Middlesboro votes 'yes' to become a moist town.|last = Noe|first = Caleb|date = September 15, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151120024254/http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Middlesboro-votes-yes-to-become-moist-town-327786481.html|archive-date = November 20, 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> With such a close vote, tension arose around the topic of alcohol allowance in the small community.

Beginning in the summer of 2015, Discover Downtown Middlesboro is the recipient of a grant from the Levitt Foundation of California. This grant provides funding for a series of 10 outdoor music concerts each summer. The concert venue is a formerly abandoned lot near the main intersection of town at 20th & Cumberland Ave. Middlesboro is one of 15 cities across the nation to be chosen for the Levitt AMP series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grant.levittamp.org/middlesboro/|title=Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series|website=Grant.levittamp.org|access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>