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

Tallahassee, Fla. –

Today, Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee announced that Crystal River Main Street has been designated the September 2021 Florida Main Street Program of the Month.

“I am thrilled to recognize Crystal River Main Street for their accomplishments,” said Secretary Lee. “Their program is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when Main Street organizations partner closely with their local government. These partnerships are crucial to Main Street’s success, and I look forward to their continued achievements in downtown revitalization.”

Crystal River Town Square Mural by William Mickey
Photography courtesy of Crystal River Main Street

Crystal River Main Street was designated as a Florida Main Street community in 2015. Over the past six years, Crystal River Main Street has worked diligently to promote economic development, public art, and preservation within their district boundaries. They also host a variety of events throughout the year, including the Taste of Crystal River in October each year.

In late 2020, Crystal River Main Street’s district was transformed with the completion of phase one of the Crystal River Town Square project. Owned by the City of Crystal River, the town square now serves as the premier location for local outdoor events hosted by Crystal River Main Street and other local organizations. In addition, the project received the 2021 Secretary of State Honor Award for Outstanding Public Improvement Project. Phase two of the Town Square project recently began and will incorporate a new splash pad as an additional outdoor recreational activity. The City of Crystal River and Crystal River Main Street will co-present an educational session on the project and the local impacts of investing in public infrastructure during the upcoming Fall Leadership Development Workshop.

Crystal River Main Street will host Florida Main Street’s Fall Leadership Development Workshop on September 20 and 21, 2021. The workshop brings together Main Street directors, board members, and communities interested in Main Street designation for training and networking. For more information about the event, visit FloridaMainStreet.com/Events.

Since 2015, Crystal River Main Street has reported $13,140,385 in public and private reinvestments and welcomed 15 net new businesses and 66 net new full-time and part-time jobs to the district. Additionally, the organization has reported more than 3,300 volunteer hours.

For more information on Crystal River Main Street, visit CrystalRiverMainStreet.com or Facebook.com/CRMainStreet. To learn more 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 50 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.