money for town with anti-discrimination ordinance

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In this photo taken Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, Vicco Mayor Johnny Cummings talks about the notoriety his Appalachian town has received since it passed an ordinance early this year prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in Vicco, KY. Out-of-towners occasionally venture well off the interstate highway to make the trek to the 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 go by anymore. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner)

VICCO, Ky. (AP) -- Eight months after this tiny Appalachian town took a stand against gay-based discrimination, it's basking in a flurry of attention and even an infusion of much-needed cash. All that hoopla has its openly gay mayor dreaming of reviving a place that had long seemed past its prime.

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.