By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

Revitalization efforts on Price City Main Street picked up several helpers on Wednesday, June 4, when the Utah State University Eastern TRiO Upward Bound students volunteered to do some spring cleaning along the streets. 

Upward Bound is a program that seeks to help first-generation and low-income high school students with academic and personal support as they pursue higher education. As a part of this program, students volunteer their time to various community service projects. At USU Eastern, Upward Bound recruits ninth and 10th grade student from Carbon High School, Pinnacle Canyon Academy, Emery High School and Grand County High School.

For this revitalization project, students went across the downtown district to pick up garbage and repaint dilapidated no-parking-zone sections of the sidewalk.

“It feels so good to see this,” said Price City Downtown District Director Megan Marshall. “Many young people come out just as dedicated as we are to beautify our community. They are so jazzed to see Price City get a little spring cleanup on Main Street.”

Serving a dual purpose, the project not only beautified Main Street Price but also highlighted the importance of youth programs like Upward Bound in the Castle Country.

“I always say to our youth council, I want you to sell our community through your eyes, not mine. My eyes are old,” said Mayor Mike Kourianos of the importance of youth involvement. “Youth engagement is what it’s all about because now they can walk by and say, ‘I was a part of this project.'”

Alongside the youth and Marshall, Mayor Kourianos and Council members Terry Willis and Amy Knott-Jesperson aided the students in their beautification efforts.

Community partners included supply and snack donations from Price City and from the Driggs Mortgage team