Secretary Detzner Designates Eau Gallie Arts District Main Street as Florida Main Street Program of the Month

TALLAHASSEE –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that Eau Gallie (pronounced “Oh-gally”) Arts District (EGAD) Main Street in Melbourne has been designated the April 2015 Florida Main Street Community of the Month. Communities are selected based on their developmental achievements and participation in the Florida Main Street Program. Designated a program in 2010, EGAD has generated over $1 million from 26 public and private reinvestment projects. Their successes include 12 new businesses, 97 new jobs, and 14,526 volunteer hours.

In 2006, the city of Melbourne rezoned part of a residential area of Eau Gallie as an “Art Overlay Zone,” creating the Eau Gallie Arts District. “The Eau Gallie Arts District is a particularly unique community in the Main Street program,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “The EGAD Main Street community prides itself on being the creative spirit of the Space Coast.”

“The arts district was founded by working artists who enjoyed the living and working environment. The EGAD galleries have some of the best art along the east coast. However, it takes a greater diversity of businesses to revitalize the neighborhood,” says Executive Director Lisa Packard. “We are also fortunate to have great anchors such as the public library, the waterfront, and a museum. Within the past year, the EGAD Main Street program has flourished with its increased membership, unique restaurants, and boutiques.  EGAD is more than just art, it’s a beautiful place to explore.”

The city of Eau Gallie was founded in 1860 by William Henry Gleason who was enchanted by the area’s coast line and natural lagoon. Gleason named the city Eau Gallie which is French for “rocky water,” because of the coquina rocks that lined the shore of the Indian River Lagoon. In 1969 Eau Gallie merged with the city of Melbourne, but retained its neighborhood title of Eau Gallie.

For more information about the Eau Gallie Arts District or the Florida Main Street program visit eaugalliearts.com or 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 24,238 jobs, 7,190 new businesses and produced $2.3 billion in reinvestment.