The National Trust for Historic Preservation, concerned about continuing threats to main streets’ commercial architecture and aware of the need to stimulate economic activity in small-city downtowns, established the Main Street Program. Since 1980, the Main Street Program has emerged across the country as a major force in downtown revitalization. There are over 900 participating cities, nation-wide, with over 60 cities in Florida.

We all know that as a city grows it can lose the unique qualities that attracted people to it. Economic growth and prosperity are important. With that growth comes responsibility. Some of your neighbors, local business owners, and community supporters have come together in a program as unique as our history to share in these responsibilities.

The St. Cloud Main Street Program, which began in September 1999, is a comprehensive revitalization program designed to encourage ongoing economic development in conjunction with historic preservation. We are a not-for-profit corporation that is funded by sponsorships, memberships, city and county governments and run by community volunteers.The Main Street program receives the benefit of experienced technical assistance from Main Street Florida in Tallahassee and the National Main Street Center in Washington, D.C. It employs the Main Street approach to bring about dramatic positive changes in downtown. It encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation. The approach advocates improvement in a four-step process to create a positive distinctive image for downtown.

Members of the St. Cloud Main Street Program can make our historic downtown a place to go for Friday night out, shopping, dining, a Saturday with the kids, or a Sunday stroll. Our downtown will be a destination for local and out of town visitors to relax and be a part of our unique history, present, and future.

These numbers are reflective of hard numbers/values tracked and do not factor in the ancillary benefits associated with the projects, contributions indirectly benefiting the Main Street Program area and community at large such as local, state and national recognition, business improvement and community pride associated with having a voice in their community.

 

Board of Directors 2023-2024