Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee Designates Apalachicola Main Street as the Florida Main Street Program of the Month

Tallahassee –

Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee announced today that the Apalachicola Main Street has been designated the January 2020 Florida Main Street Program of the Month. Programs are selected based on their development achievements and participation in the Florida Main Street program.

“Apalachicola Main Street’s bountiful resources and historic charm have created a vibrant coastal community,” said Secretary Lee. “I am impressed with their accomplishments and the dedication of their staff and volunteers.”

Apalachicola Main Street in Apalachicola, Fl

Apalachicola Main Street, situated along Florida’s Forgotten Coast in Franklin County, became a Florida Main Street community in 2011. The City of Apalachicola is home to approximately 2,300 residents and is the county seat of Franklin County. Apalachicola Main Street overlaps a portion of the National Register of Historic Places’ Apalachicola Historic District and features a large display of 19th-century Commercial Vernacular architecture bordering the coastline of the Apalachicola Bay.

Since their program began nine years ago, Apalachicola Main Street has reported more than $14 million in public and private reinvestment, 102 new jobs, 45 new businesses, and more than 9,500 volunteer hours. Aside from their array of events, such as the July 3rd Independence Eve Celebration and the Autos and Oysters Car Show, Apalachicola Main Street has been successful in obtaining grants to improve the downtown district through beautification and promotional projects and has expanded clean-up events, landscaping, and development of the Commerce Street Park.

Apalachicola Main Street is diligently working towards the spring Apalachicola Community Easter Egg Hunt on April 11th with its partners Bring Me A Book Franklin, Apalachicola Margaret Key Library and the Orman House State Park. The event held at Chapman Botanical Garden attracted approximately 300 attendees last year.

“One of our goals in the selection of the venue was to draw attention to an underutilized resource, the Chapman Botanical Garden,” said Executive Director Augusta West. “It's the perfect location for this event, and it is fun to see so many children enjoying it.”

For more information about Apalachicola Main Street, visit downtownapalachicola.com or their Facebook page. For more information about the Florida Main Street program, 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.