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

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –

Today, Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee announced that Leesburg Partnership has been designated the March 2022 Florida Main Street Program of the Month.

“I am happy to recognize the Leesburg Partnership as the Florida Main Street Program of the Month,” said Secretary Lee. “In addition to maintaining their historic downtown and supporting local businesses, the Partnership has recognized the importance of incorporating natural assets into their community environment, offering residents and visitors the opportunity to live, work and play in their Main Street district.”

Photograph courtesy of Leesburg Partnership

Leesburg Partnership was established in 1994 by the Downtown Merchants, Center for the Arts, Chamber of Commerce and residents.  The mission of the Leesburg Partnership is to restore, promote and maintain the historic character and viability of Leesburg for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.  In addition to creating a sense of place in their main street district, they have begun focusing on sports tourism and trails as a method of diversifying their community assets. “I love being the Executive Director of the Leesburg Partnership because I hope to make a difference in the community that I love and be able to show visitors why Leesburg is a great place to live, work and play,” said Executive Director Joanie Smalley, a Leesburg native. “We are fortunate to partner with the City of Leesburg, Center for the Arts, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Leesburg Business Association, Lake County and all of our members to grow Leesburg.”

Since its designation in 1994, Leesburg Partnership has reported approximately $16,071,906 in public and private reinvestments and welcomed 121 net new businesses and 355 net new full-time and part-time jobs to the district. The organization has also reported approximately 149,151 volunteer hours.

Leesburg Partnership hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as Mardi Gras, Fish Fry, Craft Beer, Christmas House, Christmas Stroll and Leesburg Bikefest. 

For more information on the Leesburg Partnership, visit https://www.leesburgpartnership.com or Facebook.com/LeesburgPartnership. 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 54 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.