Corbin Tourism seeks grant money for Railroad Museum

The Corbin Tourism Commission is continuing its efforts to fund the construction of the Corbin Railroad Museum through federal grant money.

Tourism Director Maggy Monhollen announced during the special called meeting of the commission last Tuesday that she is applying for a $3.5 million Economic Development Grant for the project through the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

“It would be done,” Monhollen said when asked how much of the project that would fund noting that in addition to $1 million for the exhibits and interior, the grant would cover the cost of the concrete around the building and paving the driveway leading up from Depot Street, installing fencing between the railroad tracks and the building, and the interior restoration of the French Broad River Pullman car.

Monhollen said the funds are part of the recent fund Congress authorized through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“Part of that money is set aside for tourism to fund projects that help communities bounce back,” Monhollen noted.

The railroad museum project has been in the works since 2015 when the L&N 2132 locomotive was brought to Corbin from Bainbridge, Georgia.

The locomotive and tender, along with the L&N 1064 caboose, have since been restored. Work on the exterior of the French Broad River was completed earlier this year.

Soon after plans for the museum were announced a call went out asking individuals with railroad memorabilia to donate their items for the museum planned for the old Corbin railroad depot building.

The artifacts are still in storage in the depot and will be incorporated into the exhibits planned for the museum.

Monhollen also told the board that she had the initial meeting with the architects over the design of the pavilion for the farmer’s market on the tourism property on North Main Street across from Sanders Park.

Monhollen has secured $100,000 in grant money from the state, $100,000 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and $250,000 from Hometown Bank of Corbin to fund the construction.

The goal is still to have the pavilion in place by spring 2022.

“It is all going to depend on the availability of materials,” Monhollen said.