Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
August 25, 2017 5:57 p.m.
Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner recently announced the winners of the 2017 Florida Main Street awards. These awards are given in recognition of the accomplishments of local Main Street programs and the local citizens and businesses that have shown tremendous dedication to creating a thriving downtown community. Twenty-six honor and merit awards were presented for exceptional accomplishments within Florida Main Street communities on August 15 at the 2017 Florida Main Street Annual Conference in Fernandina Beach.
“I am proud to recognize the many accomplishments of this year’s Florida Main Street award winners,” said Secretary Detzner. “Their passion for historic preservation combined with their commitment to economic development in their communities are essential to the success of the Florida Main Street program and the revitalization of Florida’s traditional commercial districts.”
Florida Main Street is a technical assistance program administered by the Florida Department of State’s Bureau of Historic Preservation. The Bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating and preserving Florida’s historic resources. Main Street, with its emphasis on preservation, is an effective strategy for achieving these goals in Florida’s historic retail districts. Since 1985, the Bureau has offered manager training, consultant team visits, design and other technical assistance, as well as the benefit of experience gained by other Florida Main Street programs.
Fernandina Beach was recognized as an Outstanding Supporter of the Statewide Program. Jeff Kurtz is Executive Director of Fernandina Beach Main Street www.fernandinamainstreet.com.
The second award for Fernandina Main Street was for Outstanding Florida Main Street Rehabilitation Project: U.S. Post Office/Customs Office/ Courthouse Project.
The project was described in the award citation:
“Dedicated in 1912, this Italian Renaissance Revival building was custom built to accommodate the building’s three, original functions: United States Customs House, Courthouse and Post Office. In 1973, this iconic building was listed as a contributing site in the Fernandina Beach National Register Historic District. In recent years, only the post office occupied this 3-story building that had fallen into disrepair. In 2013, the United States Postal Service announced that it would close and sell the 102 year-old building. A grassroots effort to restore the post office was brought to the attention of Senator Bill Nelson, who assured that its preservation was a top priority. In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service funded $1.2M for repair and renovation. The Fernandina Beach Post Office has been heralded as one of the country’s most beautiful small-town post offices, and its restoration should be celebrated at every level possible.”
The awards were presented at a special banquet ceremony on August 15 during the 2017 Florida Main Street Annual Conference held at the Omni Hotel and Resort in Fernandina Beach.
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 47 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. Since the program’s inception in 1985, the Florida Main Street programs have cumulatively created 24,604 jobs, 7,337 new businesses and produced $2.5 billion in reinvestment.
To learn more about the Florida Main Street program please visit FloridaMainStreet.com or Facebook.com/FloridaMainStreet
We are incredibly lucky to have Jeff Kurtz as our Main Street Director. He is passionate about what he does and always has Fernandina in his heart.
Thanks Jeff!!