Fernandina Beach Designated Florida Main Street Community

Main StreetSubmitted by Adrienne Burke, DirectorFernandina Beach Community Development Department
August 19, 2015 10:20 a.m.

 

The City is proud to announce that Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner has awarded Fernandina Beach the prestigious designation as a Florida Main Street community!

A healthy vibrant town builds its future on the past.   The program promotes sensible, sustained economic growth and enhancements based on local assets, especially historic resources and buildings. Being a Florida Main Street will enable us to maintain a focus on downtown to create greater economic stability, revitalization, sustainability, vitality, quality of life and civic pride.

Fernandina Beach Main Street is a partnership between the City of Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce and the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau. All partners are thankful for the overwhelming support of the community for the Main Street program and are excited to get started. Stay tuned for updates as the program develops, and be sure to like the “Fernandina Beach Main Street” page on Facebook, “FernandinaBeachMainStreet” on Instagram, and use #fernandinabeachmainstreet in posts.

For more information on the Florida Main Street program at the Department of State, visit http://dos.myflorida.com/historical/preservation/main-street-program/ and the National Main Street site at http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/.

For more information on the local program and plans, contact Adrienne Burke, [email protected] or (904) 310-3135.

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Steve Crounse
Steve Crounse (@guest_43124)
8 years ago

This is Huge for the sustainability of our Historic District. This Pairs-up well with the Vision, I think most of our Citizens see for the Future of our Community. Extremely helpful in acquiring grants and Bonds for Restoration projects coming on line. “Timing is everything” Of course I’m thinking of the re-utilization of our Historic Post Office Building.

Marlene Chapman
Marlene Chapman(@crew2120)
8 years ago

This is that greatest news! I know that there were many hours put into this by Adrienne and others and we can’t thank you enough. I agree with Steve 100%, let’s make the Historic Post Office one of our first priorities….please!

Nancy Dickson
Nancy Dickson(@nancyjackathenshotmail-com)
8 years ago

This is, as others have said, a wonderful honor and boost for our town. If I were a tourist however, coming to see a “Main Street” town, I would be shocked at the number of empty store fronts. Instead of overregulating commerce and driving businesses elsewhere, the city needs to focus on attracting business to fill these empty, sad looking, former businesses.

Adrienne Burke
Adrienne Burke(@aburkefbfl-org)
8 years ago

Nancy, that is exactly what the Main Street program is designed to help with! I think we will see good things in the future. If you need any more information or have questions, feel free to let me know at [email protected].

Adrienne Burke
Adrienne Burke(@aburkefbfl-org)
8 years ago

I should clarify too – Main Street is a program focused on downtown historic business districts, so our initial program area is Ash to Alachua, Front to 8th. I often got questions about why we didn’t look at our other commercial areas for this program, but they would not be eligible for this designation because it is based on historic preservation and economic development.