Secretary Byrd Recognizes Florida Main Street’s Newest Participating Communities
- 17 January 2024
- Category: SJC News
On August 15, 2023, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) passed a resolution supporting the Hastings Main Street, Inc. FY23-24 Florida Main Street Program Application. Watch a video of the presentation. The Florida Main Street Program solicits communities annually to submit applications for Florida Main Street Program designations. Currently, there are 57 such programs in Florida whose purpose is to improve economic development within a context of historic preservation. The benefits of attaining designation contribute to increased professional technical assistance and training for participating communities, guidance for national best practices for community development, and advantageous grant scoring considerations for future funding. The focus of national and state Main Street programs is to: a) create jobs through revitalizing districts attracting new industry and strengthening services and retail job markets; b) save tax dollars through revitalization and strengthening of the area’s tax base, while also protecting existing investments; c) preserve the community’s historic resources for an economically healthy downtown and preservation of the community’s heritage; and d) build community pride providing a public space for members from all areas of the community to come together, create new partnerships, and celebrate their downtown. Hastings Main Street, Inc. is submitting an application to the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources to be recognized as a Florida Main Street community. The Main Street Program application requires the support of the local government in the form of a resolution. Hastings Main Street Recognition