Secretary Detzner Designates EDGE District Main Street in St. Petersburg as Florida Main Street Program of the Month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that EDGE District Main Street in St. Petersburg has been designated the May 2018 Florida Main Street Community of the Month. Communities are selected based on their development achievements and participation in the Florida Main Street Program.

“The EDGE District has made a big impact in the four years it has been a Main Street program,” said Secretary Detzner. “Their Main Street team has worked hard to preserve the community’s history and to create a vibrant district with a variety of retail, restaurants and activities.”

Edge District Main Street, St. Petersburg, Florida

Since its designation in 2014, the EDGE District has received eight awards for outstanding programs, business and volunteers. EDGE is an acronym for “Entertainment, Dining, Galleries and shops, Etcetera.” Nestled between First Avenue North and Central, from MLK to 16^th Street, the district encompasses about nine blocks. An area once almost deserted has now become a place with dozens of active businesses ranging from galleries and shops to restaurants and bars.

In addition to the many businesses located in the EDGE District, the Main Street program organizes a variety of events like the EDGE District quarterly cleanup. The cleanup event is designed to keep the community healthy and beautiful, while also bringing the community together for a common purpose. Other events include Bike to Work Day and the Sip and Stroll, which highlights different businesses in the community each month.

The EDGE District has big plans to improve the area. The first phase of their future investment plans include streetscape improvements, adding parking infrastructure and installing gateway markers. The District recently announced that artist James Brenner has been selected to create one-of-a-kind sculptures to serve as gateway markers. These gateway markers will celebrate the community’s industrial heritage and its edgy character. The gateway markers are the first step to make the EDGE District one of Florida’s premiere destinations.

For more information about EDGE Main Street please visit edgedistrict.org. For more information on the Florida Main Street program, please visit floridamainstreet.com or 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 51 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.