Secretary Detzner Selects Two New Main Street Communities

Tallahassee, Florida –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today the designation of Chattahoochee and Tallahassee as the two newest Florida Main Street communities. Designation brings with it three years of intensive training and technical assistance from the statewide Florida Main Street Program to support local revitalization and historic preservation efforts in the community’s traditional commercial area.

"I am proud to welcome both Chattahoochee and Tallahassee to the Main Street Program," said Secretary Detzner. "This important program encourages economic development of Florida’s traditional commercial corridors within the context of historic preservation. Its efforts foster a return to community self-reliance, emphasizing the traditional assets of downtown—local ownership, personal service, and a sense of community."

Chattahoochee is a small city located in northern Florida with a population of about 3,600.  Originally known as Mount Vernon, Chattahoochee was established as a ferry landing on the Apalachicola River during the 1820s.

The City of Tallahassee was established in 1824, following a decision by the legislature to locate the capital of the new territory midway between the capitals of East Florida and West Florida, St. Augustine and Pensacola respectively. The Main Street area is located downtown, consisting of 22 blocks and 225 buildings.

Secretary Detzner’s designation is based on the August 29 recommendation of the seven-member ad hoc Florida Main Street Advisory Committee. Organizations represented on the Advisory Committee included: Florida Division of Historical Resources, Main Street Ft. Pierce, Inc., Florida Department of Economic Opportunity,1000 Friends of Florida, Florida League of Cities, Florida Redevelopment Association, and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.

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About the Florida Main Street Program

Florida Main Street is a technical assistance program administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources. The Bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating, and preserving Florida's historic resources. Main Street, with its emphasis on preservation, is an effective strategy in achieving these goals in Florida's historic retail districts. For more about Florida Main Street and other programs conducted by the Division of Historical Resources, visit flheritage.com.