The tiny town of Vicco, Kentucky, whose City Commission (above) voted in January to adopt an LGBT anti-discrimination policy making it the fourth city in the state to do so, is crediting that ordinance with its economic revival, the AP reports:
Out-of-towners occasionally venture well off the interstate to make the trek to Vicco, a fading coal town of about 330 residents where an aging row of buildings lines one side of the block-long downtown. Railroad tracks run along the other side, though trains rarely pass by anymore.
Visitors pose for pictures in front of the Mayberry-like city hall or shake hands with Mayor Johnny Cummings, 51, a chain-smoking hair salon operator who grew up in the town, spent some time living on both coasts, and then returned home.
"I thought the 15 minutes of fame would have been over a long time ago," Cummings said.
Not even close.
The town may even become the setting for a reality-based television show. Cummings said he expects to review a contract proposal soon from a production company, but doesn't know which network might be interested.
He said he wants the show to focus on revitalizing the town.
Promises of grants to help the town out have been pouring in from all corners of the country after it was featured in national headlines and the Colbert Report:
All together, the pledges and grant applications amount to more than $200,000, approaching Vicco's annual budget of about $300,000, Cummings said. Still, the town has only a tiny fraction of that money in hand.
