Department of State Congratulates Florida Main Street Award Winners

Honor and merit awards presented for exceptional accomplishments

Tallahassee, Florida –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner and the Department of State congratulate the recipients of the Secretary of State's 2012 Florida Main Street Awards. The awards encourage and acknowledge local Main Street Program accomplishments that advance the goals of the Florida Main Street Program.

"I am proud to recognize the activities and accomplishments of this year's Main Street honorees," said Secretary Detzner. "Their focus on preservation and contributions to Main Street programs across the state are essential to the revitalization of Florida's traditional commercial districts."

The Secretary’s awards are based on the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Florida Main Street Awards Committee. The committee included Florida Main Street Program Coordinator Joan Jefferson, Preservation Architect Eva Osborne and three local Main Street program managers: Mikel Dorminy, Bartow Main Street; Barbara Hendrix, Newberry Main Street; and Charles Rudd, Palatka Main Street.

Thirty-six honor or merit awards were presented for exceptional accomplishments within Florida Main Street communities.

The 2012 award recipients include:

Honor Awards

Outstanding Local Florida Main Street Program Supporter
Jerry Conerly, Wauchula

Outstanding Fundraising or Membership Development Effort
MainStreet DeLand Association, Nine Hole Networking

Outstanding Private-Public Partnership
City of Crestview CRA, Façade Improvement Grant Program

Outstanding Public Improvement
Okaloosa County Veteran’s Memorial, Crestview

Outstanding New Construction
Dr. David F. Wemmer, DDS, Wemmer Family Orthodontics, Okeechobee
Vilano Beach Town Center Partners, LLC, Publix Anchored Town Center

Outstanding Sign/Display Project
Gil and Marie Culbreth, Old Bank Building Mural Project, Okeechobee

Outstanding Special Event
Stuart Main Street, Dancin’ in the Street
First Baptist Church of Wauchula and Main Street Wauchula, Hometown Holidays

Outstanding Image Campaign or Promotional Material
St. Cloud Main Street, Promotional Materials

Outstanding Retail Sales Promotion
St. Cloud Main Street, Hipstoric Happy Hour

Outstanding Economic Restructuring Program or Project
City of Stuart, Stuart CRA, Stuart Main Street, Marcela Camblor, Downtown
Stuart Outdoor Seating Strategy

Outstanding Business of the Year
Shops on the Corner, Wauchula

Merit Awards

Outstanding Local Florida Main Street Program Supporter
J. Robert Barnes, AIA, Homestead
Ellis Conner, Crestview
Gayle Hogan, Dade City
Craig Holland, Kissimmee
Jane Lindsey, Panama City
Bernie Malone, Stuart
Mike Reilly, St. Cloud

Outstanding Fundraising or Membership Development Effort
BB&T Bank, Downtown Kissimmee Branch, Membership Program

Outstanding Private-Public Partnership
City of Stuart CRA and Stuart Main Street, Colorado Avenue Business District

Outstanding Public Improvement
Lynn Haven Main Street, City of Lynn Haven, and Lynn Haven CRA, Florida Avenue Streetscape Improvements
Daughters of the American Revolution, Okeechobee, Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach Chapters, Monument Project

Outstanding Main Street Sign/Display Project
Relief Skate Supply, Panama City

Outstanding Special Event
Thedailycity.com, Kissimmee Main Street, City of Kissimmee, Food Truck Bazaar

Lincoln Park Main Street Promotions Committee, Jazz on Moore’s Creek
Panama City Main Street, Saint Andrews Bay Saltworks Raid

Outstanding Image Campaign or Promotional Materials
Panama City Main Street, St. Andrews Bay Saltworks Raid

Outstanding Economic Restructuring Program or Project
Dade City Co-op, Communication Meeting
Main Street Wauchula Economic Restructuring Committee, Main Street Place Plan

Outstanding Business of the Year
Coney Island, Crestview
Quilt Shop of DeLand, Judy Hansen
Ron Hart and Earthtones, Stuart
Whimsy Boutique, Fort Pierce
Willy’s Wieners, Kissimmee

About Florida Main Street

Florida Main Street is a technical assistance program of the Bureau of Historic Preservation, managed by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources. The bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating and preserving Florida’s historical resources. Main Street, with its emphasis on preservation, is an effective strategy for achieving these goals in Florida’s historic retail districts. Since 1985, the bureau has offered manager training, consultant team visits, design and other technical assistance, as well as the benefit of experience gained by other Florida Main Street programs.