Fernandina Beach Main Street receives 2019 National Main Street Accreditation

Fernandina Beach Main Street
Press Release
Contact: Arlene Filkoff
[email protected]
May 3, 2019 11:00 a.m.

Fernandina Beach Main Street, May 2, 2019 Fernandina Beach Main Street has been designated as an accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs to recognize their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™

“We are proud to acknowledge this year’s 840 nationally accredited Main Street America programs that have worked tirelessly to strengthen their communities. said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of the National Main Street Center. “These programs deserve recognition for generating impressive economic returns, preserving community character, and celebrating local history. Main Street America Accredited communities are part of a powerful movement of changemakers, and their dedication to improving quality of life in the places they call home is inspiring.

In 2018 alone, Main Street America programs generated $4.93 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 5,310 net new businesses, generated 25,301 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 8,146historic buildings, and clocked 2.2 million volunteer hours.

The Fernandina Beach Main Street performance is annually evaluated by the Florida Main Street program which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, documenting programmatic progress, and actively preserving historic buildings.

With the assistance of a state grant, Fernandina Beach Main Street has worked to re-design downtown signage to bring back the theme set in the 1970’s by those who worked tirelessly to revitalize our downtown. Our Main Street organization has partnered to bring events downtown, to re-vamp landscaping, and to assist the City in replacing old streetscape which had outlived its usefulness. Future projects will look at lighting, sidewalks and replacement of mature trees.