One of the state's most cost effective programs is bringing people and dollars back to downtown.

[ By Michael Zimny ]

To many, the term, "Main Street" means downtown America. Through the first half of the 20th century, downtown was the center of community, commerce and activity in small towns throughout the United States. In Florida, the main streets of DeLand, Dade City, and Bartow were anchored by traditional, domed courthouses. Saturday night's entertainment was found on Panama City's main street at the Martin Theater, Monticello's red brick opera house or the Aladdin and Lyric theatres in Cocoa and Stuart. Railroad stations in Dunellon, Palatka and Kissimmee welcomed travelers home to the center of town. Hundreds of mom-and-pop stores throughout the state provided for shoppers' needs.

In the 1960s, Florida's small downtowns began to change. The move to the suburbs began as the Interstate highway system and improved transportation routes took business and residents away from the center of town. Businesses on Main Street closed or moved as shoppers were drawn to suburban malls. Downtown property values and sales tax revenues for locally owned businesses plummeted. The role that downtown and its unique historic buildings played in reflecting the community's heritage was forgotten. Buildings and neighborhoods were abandoned.

In 1980 the National Trust for Historic Preservation established one of the nation's most successful economic development and historic preservation tools—the Main Street approach. Administered through the Trust's National Main Street Center, the program is designed to help revitalize historic or traditional commercial areas of main street communities by recruiting new businesses, rehabilitating buildings and solving parking issues, while improving economic management, strengthening public participation, and making downtown a fun place to visit. Over $15.2 billion have been invested in more than 1,600 communities nationwide since the program began, resulting in the generation of 52,000 new businesses and 206,000 new jobs. In 2000 the ratio of investment in the community (the average number of dollars generated for every dollar used to operate the local Main Street program) was an impressive $39.22 for every $1 spent. Based on the national model, the Florida Main Street program has enjoyed similar success. With the help of Florida Main Street, Florida's older, small downtowns are finding their niche in today's marketplace and regaining their prominence in the community.

Florida Main Street, administered by the Florida Department of State, Bureau of Historic Preservation, began in 1985. In just over 15 years, more than $569 million has been reinvested in more than 80 Florida communities from Milton to Key West. With the support of Florida Main Street, communities have opened 2,270 new businesses, created 8,734 new jobs, and rehabilitated 5,475 buildings throughout the state.

Florida Main Street empowers citizens to improve their downtowns by providing residents, merchants, and property owners with the training, tools and resources to make changes that improve and enrich their community and quality of life. The program concentrates on cities with traditional historic downtowns and populations between 5,000 and 50,000, but may be tailored to smaller communities and historic commercial areas of larger cities.

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