Secretary Detzner Designates Fernandina Beach Main Street as Florida Main Street Program of the Month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that Fernandina Beach Main Street has been designated the Florida Main Street Community of the Month for August 2017. Communities are selected based on their participation in the Florida Main Street program. Fernandina Beach was designated as a Florida Main Street community in 2015, and has already garnered $3,304,358 in private rehabilitation funds and $1,071,784 in new private/public construction.

“Fernandina Beach is a vibrant town that is working to build its future on its remarkable past,” said Secretary Detzner. “Fernandina Beach downtown has a rich history and its waterfront location radiates Southern charm, making it an enticing and fun destination for locals and visitors. Fernandina Beach Main Street is well on its way to seeing much success in the future.”

Fernandina Beach is located on Amelia Island, known as the Isle of 8 Flags, because it is the only municipality in the United States to have flown the flags of eight different nationalities. First ruled by France, then Spain, Great Britain and Spain again, Fernandina next flew the Patriot flag, the Green Cross of Florida, the Mexican Rebel flag, the flag of the Confederacy, and finally, the flag of the United States.

Today, the National Register Historic District spans more than 50 blocks and has an array of eclectic shops, a diverse mix of restaurants and beautifully preserved architecture. Visitors can tour the area in a horse-drawn carriage, book a room in one of the many elegant bed and breakfasts or take a boat ride from the harbor to watch the sunset. The friendly Fernandina Beach Ambassadors welcome visitors at the historic Train Depot, now the Amelia Island Welcome Center, where historic preservation meets 21st century technology.

The Fernandina Beach Main Street program encompasses approximately 50 blocks of hotels, shops, restaurants, bars, breweries, bed and breakfasts and parks. Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Fernandina Beach 19^th on its list of America’s Quirkiest Towns, as well as 3^rd on its list of America’s Most Romantic Towns. It was also included on Huffington Post’s Best Beach Towns along with dozens of other accolades.

Fernandina Beach holds several festivals each year that draw visitors from around the world. The Fernandina Shrimp Festival, held the first weekend in May, draws as many as 100,000 tourists to the town to enjoy local sea food, beer and beaches. The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance brings classic automobiles and enthusiasts from around the world and the Petanque America Open is held on the waterfront each year. Along with these international events, a series of free local concerts and events including Sounds on Centre are held between April and October for visitors and residents to enjoy. Together, these events keep locals and tourists busy all year long.

The Florida Main Street program is hosting the 2017 Florida Main Street Conference in Fernandina Beach on August 14-16, 2017. The conference is open to anyone interested in historic downtowns and historic preservation. To register, please visit our website.

For more information on Fernandina Beach Main Street, please visit FernandinaMaintreet.com or Facebook.com/FernandinaMainStreet. For information on the Florida Main Street program, visit FloridaMainStreet.com and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FloridaMainStreet

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About Florida Main Street

Florida Main Street is a program administered by the Division of Historical Resources under the Florida Department of State, which currently oversees 47 communities throughout the state. By implementing the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach®, Florida Main Street encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation through the revitalization of Florida’s downtowns – the community’s heart and soul. Since the program’s inception in 1985, the Florida Main Street programs have cumulatively created over 26,000 jobs, over 8,000 new businesses and $2.6 billion in reinvestment.