Downtown Dade City Main Street, Inc.

Accomplishments

• Restoration of the Historic County Courthouse
• Renovation of the Historic Train Depot
• More than $5 million in downtown restoration projects
• More than 25 new businesses and 115 new jobs
• Streetscaping on Meridian Avenue & tree planting on North Seventh Street
• Building grants resulting in more than 50 downtown improvements projects
• Construction of downtown restrooms
• Promotion of downtown through I-75 billboard, downtown shopping guides, private label water and commemorative post cards
• Establishment of a Community Redevelopment Agency and tax-increment financing to fund long-range improvements

Vision

The goal of Downtown Dade City Main Street is to protect and preserve the architectural and cultural heritage of Dade City and promote the ongoing revitalization of our downtown commercial core in the context of historic preservation. Dade City Main Street's mission statement reads:

"A commitment to revitalize and preserve the flavor of small town life and the unique heritage of Dade City, Florida"

We believe the best way to preserve the community's heritage is to restore its historic and traditional downtown as a working and profitable economic center.

History

The Main Street approach advocates a return to community self-reliance and emphasizes the downtown district's traditional assets of personal service, local ownership, unique architecture, and a sense of community. In our state alone, more than 40 communities have joined the Main Street movement, utilizing the Four-Point Approach (Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Restructuring) to bring about incremental, positive change.

Main Street members work with community leaders (public and private sectors) to encourage building rehabilitation, public improvements, and enhancing the downtown image through promotion of special events.

Founded in 1986, Downtown Dade City Main Street, Inc. is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3, tax-exempt organization. Dade City Main Street was officially welcomed into the Florida Main Street Program (Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, Bureau of Historic Preservation) in 1987 and remains an active advocate for positive change and revitalization.

Main Street is citizen-driven, yet encourages public-private partnerships in order to realize its goal for a revitalized town center and an improved quality of life for its residents. Dade City Main Street is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by the membership at its annual corporate meeting in January. Program funding is provided in part by local government, business and individual memberships, and voluntary contributions.

Today, Downtown Dade City Main Street is recognized as one of the crown jewels of the Main Street program.

Goals

Organization: Strive to build consensus and cooperation among the diverse groups with roles in the downtown area, implementing a unified management strategy. Recruits new members, staff, and volunteers and raises funds to support planned activities.

Design: Convey an attractive, coherent and quality image of downtown by capitalizing on its unique assets and heritage, incorporating all elements of the downtown's appearance and function.

Promotion: Create and market a unified, positive image of downtown through special events, retail sales, effective advertising and public relations.

Economic Restructuring: Improve the economic base of downtown by strengthening existing businesses and recruiting others to improve the retail mix.