HARTFORD (KFSM) -- Last September, several Hartford community members developed a group to help the city.
President of the group Traci Harris said the idea of the group is to help revitalize the city of Hartford.
The group plans to target Hartford's downtown area by restoring and re-painting the structures. They have also mentioned adding antique looking light posts. The group said the would also like to add a community garden and a music statue among many other projects.
"This is where several Christian hymns that you sing today were written," said Harris. "This place used to be booming. The coal mining industry was huge at one point."
Over the years, the town has dropped in population, and several small businesses that were in the town have seemed to move out.
"When people see this place it doesn't really make them want to stop. You just hurry up and drive through," Harris said.
The problem they are running into while trying to revitalize is funding. At the moment, the city is limited from a monetary standpoint. All city offices are being consolidated into one building, an old funeral home.
"I know it's not popular with everyone, but we are trying to do things to make it more feasible for the city to function," said Hartford mayor James Baker.
Baker said by consolidating the offices. the city will be saving more than $600 every month.
Those wishing to continue playing football now suit up for Hackett a long time rival of the town.
The Hartford school district consolidated with the Hackett school district last year. Hartford lost their football team and does not have a superintendent on campus.
"It is known as Hackett school on the Hartford campus now," Baker said.
The group CIA is hoping to start revitalizing the town by holding a black tie benefit dinner Friday night (June 3). The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. at the Senior Citizen Center in Hartford.
"State representative Marcus Richmond, he is going to be there. A couple of mayors from close towns will be there," Harris said. "We just want people outside of the community to know we are proud of our community. Maybe they can help us find new channels, new ways to get some money in here to do these things."
She said the black-tie event will be the first of many fundraising events to come.