BSADD leads Prestonsburg's Trail Town application effort

The Big Sandy Area Development District played a central role in submitting the City of Prestonsburg's application for Kentucky Trail Town certification on June 12, capping more than two decades of community effort, according to the Floyd County Chronicle.

BSADD Business Development Specialist Mariana Hinojosa oversaw the application process and hosted a community meeting at the ADD office in Prestonsburg on the day the application was submitted.

"I know it's been a while in the making, and we're just glad that we've been able to put it into paperwork and submit it by the end of today," Hinojosa said, according to the Chronicle. "And hopefully next week we'll hear some good news and by the end of the year we'll be a Trail Town."

Hinojosa co-chaired the Prestonsburg Trail Town Task Force alongside outgoing Prestonsburg Tourism Executive Director Lauren McCoart. The task force coordinated five subcommittees over the past year to complete the application's required assessments, amenity inventories and community outreach.

June 12 marked Hinojosa's final day at BSADD, as she has accepted a position with the Kentucky Department for Local Government in Frankfort. BSADD Transportation Specialist Aaron King will assume oversight of the Trail Town project going forward.

Prestonsburg would join 30 certified Trail Towns statewide, including Big Sandy Region communities Elkhorn City and Royalton.

McCoart credited Hinojosa's leadership for getting the application across the finish line.

"This wouldn't have been done if it wasn't for her," McCoart said, per the Chronicle.