Secretary Byrd Designates Overtown Business Association as Florida Main Street Program of the Month

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. –

Today, Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that the Overtown Business Association, located in Miami-Dade County, has been designated the February 2025 Florida Main Street Program of the Month.

“It has been wonderful witnessing Overtown Business Association’s achievements since their reorganization," said Secretary Cord Byrd. "With the development of the Overtown Heritage Corner, this community has shown that it is invested in promoting the past and present to ensure a bright future."

Established in 1896, Overtown became home to Black residents in Miami in the 1900’s. Many of its earliest settlers worked on Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railroad. Overtown’s Lyric Theatre, which opened in 1913, became its cultural hub. The venue hosted musical legends such as Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington, W. E. B. DuBois, and other prominent Black Americans of the time. During this era, Overtown’s businesses and community institutions thrived, including local churches and schools.

Photographs provided by the Overtown Business Association

Overtown has recently embarked on a path of revitalization, including initiatives like the 2015 Overtown Transit Village project, which aims to preserve its cultural heritage while fostering economic growth.

Today, community leaders actively work to celebrate and highlight Overtown's rich history, ensuring its contributions to Miami's cultural landscape are honored and preserved. In 2024, the Overtown Business Association (OBA) proudly announced the launch of the Overtown Heritage Corner at NW 3rd Avenue & NW 11th Terrace. A key part of ongoing revitalization efforts in the neighborhood, the Heritage Corner will feature retail shops, food stalls, a café and bar, and performance spaces designed to immerse visitors in Overtown’s artistic traditions. This initiative aims to ensure that the community's story is celebrated for generations to come. The Overtown Heritage Corner will serve as a platform for economic growth, job opportunities, and cultural preservation, fostering pride and unity within the neighborhood.

As part of the Florida Main Street program, Overtown is continuing to grow as a model of sustainable development and community-led revitalization. The Main Street designation allows for focused efforts to preserve Overtown's cultural landmarks, improve infrastructure, and support local businesses. Overtown Business Association preserves historic landmarks and fosters community engagement through regular events such as street festivals, art exhibits, and pop-up markets. These recurring events and the addition of the Overtown Heritage Corner help to highlight the talent and resilience of Overtown’s residents while bringing people together to celebrate the neighborhood's rich cultural heritage. “Being recognized as Program of the Month underscores our commitment to the principles of the Main Street program,” says Metris Batts, Executive Director for Overtown Business Association. “This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts driving the revitalization of our district.”

For more information on Overtown Business Association, visit OvertownBiz.org. 

To learn more about the Florida Main Street program, visit FloridaMainStreet.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

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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 52 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.