PRESS RELEASE: Winners Announced for the Secretary of State’s 2023 Florida Main Street Awards

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. –

Last week, winners of the Secretary of State’s 2023 Florida Main Street Awards were announced during the Preservation on Main Street Conference in Ocala. Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd was at the ceremony to present awards to this year’s winners who achieved outstanding results in historic preservation and commercial activity through the Florida Main Street program.

“This year’s winners have shown a remarkable commitment to preserving the distinct heritage, traditions, and culture that make their historic downtowns attractive places for commerce,” said Secretary Byrd. “The Department of State is proud to showcase these success stories in the preservation and revitalization of Florida’s historic downtowns.”

 

Local Leader of the Year

Jim Dean, City Manager, City of Marianna on behalf of Main Street Marianna

Mayor Paul Alfrey, City of Melbourne on behalf of Melbourne Main Street

Mayor Nate Kilton, Plant City on behalf of Historic Plant City Main Street

 

Board Member of the Year

Tony Lombardo, Havana Main Street

Theresa Proverbs, Labelle Downtown Revitalization Corporation

Corey Runte, Melbourne Main Street

 

Business Owner of the Year

Nathalie Wu, Wicked Bao, Fernandina Beach Main Street

 

Distinctive Preservation Award

Downtown Mixed-use Design Standards, Lake Wales Main Street (Category A)

Preservation Month, MainStreet DeLand Association (Category B)

 

Landmark Preservation Project

Historic Stuart Building Restoration, Main Street Bartow (Category A)

 

Budget Hawk

Beautify Brooksville, Brooksville Main Street (Category A)

Oktoberfest, Historic Plant City Main Street (Category B)

Poemville, Audubon Park Garden District (Category C)

 

Sunshine Booster

Downtown Florida Panther Mural, Main Street Bartow (Category A)

City of St. Cloud, St. Cloud Main Street (Category B)

 

Telling Your Story

2022 Annual Report, Main Street DeFuniak Springs (Category A)

DTMB Branding, Melbourne Main Street (Category B)

 

Celebrating Main Street

Bartow In Bloom, Main Street Bartow (Category A)

Last Friday Food Truck Rally, Historic Plant City Main Street (Category B)

Storybook Adventures, St. Cloud Main Street (Category B)

 

Four Point Warrior

Southern Craft Creamery Market, Marianna Main Street

 

For more information on the MainStreet Ocala Association, visit OcalaMainStreet.org/ or Facebook.com/OcalaMainStreet. To learn more about the Florida Main Street program, visit FloridaMainStreet.com or Facebook.com/FloridaMainStreet.

 # # #

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 57 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, cultural and heritage districts – the community’s heart and soul.