Carbon County will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Sept. 8 at the new welcome garden on Route 209 in Jim Thorpe coming down the Mansion House Hill.

In June 2016, commissioners partnered with Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, the borough and some businesses to apply for a Main Street Lehigh Valley Foundation grant for the Gateway to Jim Thorpe beautification project.The county also worked with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce to apply for the grant.On Aug. 3, Marlyn Kissner, executive director of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development, presented commissioners with the check.The welcome area is along Susquehanna Street, across Route 209 from Turkey Hill and the 76 Susquehanna St. county office building.On Thursday, Kissner, accompanied by Kathy Henderson, director of Economic Development for the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, visited the commissioners' meeting to give an update on the grants."Some are as little as a $500 grant, and some are $2,000 grants. But what you see is our small towns coming alive, with benches and self-watering plants, and the farmers markets," she said."All of these things really retain and help to attract business, and also give our community a lot of pride," Kissner said.Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said the county has thus far received $17,000 in grants, including $4,000 toward the gateway project.