Winners Announced for Secretary of State’s 2017 Florida Main Street Awards

TALLAHASSEE, Fla –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Florida Main Street awards. The Florida Main Street awards are given in recognition of the accomplishments of local Main Street programs and the local citizens and businesses who have shown tremendous dedication to creating a thriving downtown community. Twenty-six honor and merit awards were presented for exceptional accomplishments within Florida Main Street communities on August 15 at the 2017 Florida Main Street Annual Conference in Fernandina Beach.

“I am proud to recognize the many accomplishments of this year’s Florida Main Street award winners,” said Secretary Detzner. “Their passion for historic preservation combined with their commitment to economic development in their communities are essential to the success of the Florida Main Street program and the revitalization of Florida’s traditional commercial districts.”

Florida Main Street is a technical assistance program administered by the Florida Department of State’s Bureau of Historic Preservation. The Bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating and preserving Florida's historic 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.

The 2017 Florida Main Street award winners are listed below.

Outstanding Local Florida Main Street Supporter 

Honor: Main Street Wauchula – Catharine Woods

Merit: Crystal River Main Street – Citrus Country Chamber of Commerce

 

Outstanding Florida Main Street Fundraising or Membership Development Effort

Honor: Main Street Winter Haven – CityWorks (X)po

Merit: Main Street Bartow – Blooming Bike Ride & Tour de Tow Scenic Cycling Road

 

Outstanding Private-Public Partnership 

Honor: EDGE District – EDGE District Improvement Plan

Merit: Apalachicola Main Street – City of Apalachicola and Apalachicola Main Street, Okeechobee Main Street – Okeechobee County Tourist Development & Okeechobee Main Street

 

Outstanding Supporter of the Statewide Program

Honor: Fernandina Beach Main Street – Donna Rollins

 

Outstanding Florida Main Street Rehabilitation Project  

Honor: Fernandina Beach Main Street – U.S. Post Office/Customs Office/ Courthouse Project

Merit: Main Street Winter Haven – Derry Down Project

 

Outstanding Florida Main Street Public Improvement

Honor: Crystal River Main Street – Spirit Corner

Merit: Grand Central District Association – 2400-2500 Streetscape Project

 

Outstanding New Construction Project 

Honor: EDGE District – Hawkers Asian Street Fare

Merit: Eau Gallie (EGAD!) Main Street – Intracoastal Brewery Company

 

Sign/Display Project

Honor: Main Street Bartow – Main Street Beautification Container Garden Project

Merit: Apalachicola Main Street – Downtown Directional Signals

 

Outstanding Florida Main Street Special Event

Honor: Leesburg – Budweiser Clydesdales come to Leesburg

Merit: Main Street Wauchula – The Park Series Event, Apalachicola Main Street – Autos and Oysters Classic Car Show, St. Cloud Main Street – First Responders Appreciation

 

Outstanding Florida Main Street Image Campaign or Promotional Material

Honor: St. Cloud Main Street – 2017 Soldier City Video, Crystal River Main Street – Spirit of Crystal River Pop-Up Gallery

Merit: MainStreet DeLand – Historic Mural Walk Book

 

Outstanding Florida Main Street Economic Vitality Program or Project

Honor: EGAD! Main Street – Market Position Report

 

Outstanding Florida Main Street Business of the Year

Honor: EDGE District – ARTicles Gallery and Framing

Merit: St. Cloud Main Street – Handyman Hardware

The awards were presented at a special banquet ceremony on August 15 during the 2017 Florida Main Street Annual Conference held at the Omni Hotel and Resort in Fernandina Beach.

To learn more about the Florida Main Street program please visit 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 47 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 24,604 jobs, 7,337 new businesses and produced $2.5 billion in reinvestment.