Main Street is a comprehensive downtown revitalization program that encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation. The Main Street Program was originated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980. Since then it has grown into a successful network of over 1,650 Main Street communities throughout the United States. The Florida Main Street Program is administered by the Department of State, Bureau of Historic Preservation.

What is the Main Street Approach?

The Main Street approach is an incremental, comprehensive, long-term, total community effort.

The Main Street Approach utilizes four elements which are integrated to create a positive, identifiable image for the downtown. The four concepts are:
• Organization
• Promotion
• Design
• Economic Restructuring/Development

Organization(pull everyone together) focuses on building a strong Main Street program by seeking support from a broad community base, developing strong leadership, and assuring the necessary funds to carry out Main Street activites.

Promotion (let the show begin) involves positioning and marketing the downtown as a focus for community pride, social activity, and economic development potential.

Design (pay attention to the details) focuses on the visual enhancement of the downtown environment, such as building rehabilitations/restorations, signage, window displays, and publicimprovements.

Economic Restructuring (let’s keep growing) focuses on the economic base of downtown by strengthening existing businesses, recruiting new businesses, and filling second floor vacancies  

Who pays for the local Main Street program?
Is it a grant?

Financial support for the program comes from the local entities who have a stake in the downtown: city government, merchants, businesses, and the public. The success of the local Main Street program over the years lies in the fact that it is a local initiative, both organizationally and financially.

How long does a local Main Street program last?

Commercial revitalization is an ongoing process. Just as a shopping center has a full-time staff and works constantly to ensure proper management, and marketing, downtown commercial districts need ongoing attention too.

Change

One element that all downtowns have in common is that the physical, social and economic character will change. The challenge for Winter Haven ten years ago was to keep change from translating into decline. Main Street Winter Haven’s response was to become directly involved in causing changes that would help the downtown, and in preventing changes that would do harm. The following is a sampling of some of the Positive Changes in downtown Winter Haven:

Positive Changes:

1995 – 2007 Accomplishments:

• Strong public/private partnership with the City of Winter Haven
• 1997 Fifth Street streetscape
• 1997 Adopt-a-light program
• Monthly “TGIF Downtown” (2000-2003)
• 2004 Make Your Mark Program
• Uniformed directional signs
• Re-routing of State Road 542 (bypassing West Central Avenue)
• Façade grant program
• USF Study of Façade Renovations
• Downtown Façade Guidelines
• “Where to Eat Downtown” Directory
• Over 25,000 volunteer hours
• “Beach Party”
• “Full Belly Poker Run”
• Parking Pow-Wow
• The Messenger Newsletter – delivered to over 33,000 homes
• Over 300 members
• Successful Benefactor Program
• Main Street Winter Haven website
• Inventory of available buildings for sale or lease
• Partnership with the Ritz Theatre
• Partnership with Winter Haven Symphony Guild – Champagne & Shamrocks
• Strong corporate sponsorship base
• Retail seminars
• Market Analysis and Redevelopment Recommendations for retail & residential uses
• Downtowns Development Design Strategy – LDR Plan
• Restaurant meetings
• Merchant meetings
• “Wine Taste” held in conjunction with “Pops in the Park”
• “Central Park Cinema”
• Partnership with City of Winter Haven and Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce for the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition and “Central Park Stroll”
• Applied and received State Grant funds to develop a brochure, audio tour, and website for The Leedy Lifetime Works Tour
• Assisted City in acquiring building where Social Security is currently located
• Familiarization tour(s) of available downtown property
• Worked with City to develop a Historic Preservation Ordinance
• Developed a downtown Sign Ordinance draft
• Talk of the Town newsletter – delivered to downtown businesses