Secretary Detzner Designates Wauchula Florida Main Street Program of the Month

Tallahassee –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that Main Street Wauchula has been designated the Florida Main Street Community of the Month for September 2014. Communities are selected based on their developmental achievements and participation in the Florida Main Street Program. Main Street Wauchula has been one of Florida’s most successful programs for almost 20 years.

"Main Street Wauchula is committed to the revitalization and preservation of its historic downtown," said Secretary of State Ken Detzner.  "Thanks to their efforts, future generations will be able to appreciate the history of their town and enjoy locally owned shops that stimulate the economy of the community."

Wauchula's 2013 Annual Back to School Tailgate Party

Since Main Street Wauchula’s designation in 1995, the program has completed over 175 rehabilitation projects, totaling over $12 million. They are also responsible for bringing in 59 businesses into their downtown which has created 237 jobs.

"We recently hosted our Annual Back to School Tailgate Party and have also successfully integrated an Alumni Games Competition," said Jessica Newman, Main Street Wauchula Executive Director. "This event is not just a celebration for the students, but also for the entire family. Our next event will be the Fall Festival. Booths will line Main Street as children dressed up in adorable costumes play games, admire scarecrows, and pick a pumpkin from the patch."  

The county seat of Hardee County, Wauchula emerged from a settlement that was established to support Fort Hartsuff, a U.S Army post during the Seminole Wars.  The name Wauchula is derived from a Miccosukee Indian word wa-tu-la-ha-kee, which means call of the sand hill crane.

For more information about Main Street Wauchula or the Florida Main Street program visit mainstreetwauchula.com, floridamainstreet.com or facebook.com/FloridaMainStreet.

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About Florida Main Street

Florida Main Street is a program administered by the Division of Historical Resources under the Florida Department of State, which currently oversees 45 communities throughout the state. By implementing the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach®, Florida Main Street encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation through the revitalization of Florida’s downtowns – the community’s heart and soul. Since the program’s inception in 1985, the Florida Main Street programs have cumulatively created 22,487 jobs, 6,442 new businesses and produced $2.3 billion in reinvestment.