Apalachicola Main Street is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting our future while preserving our past. The downtown district is defined as Ten Foot Hole (the City Marina) to Scipio Creek, and 6th Street to Water Street.
Our Mission
Apalachicola Main Street’s mission is to enhance the downtown district of Apalachicola with sound economic development that promotes a sustainable future while preserving the district’s historical significance and commitment to quality of life in our community.
In 2020, we committed to actively promoting the district’s diverse historical and cultural heritage as part of the implementation of our mission.
Our Vision
Apalachicola will continue to grow and sustainably develop economically and socially and with respect for its environmentally sensitive surroundings. The historical and cultural traditions of the community and its diverse populations will be celebrated and promoted through public education and awareness activities. Downtown Apalachicola’s status as the preeminent commercial, civic, and cultural center of the Forgotten Coast region will be advanced while maintaining its historic character, small-town aesthetic, and unique qualities. The vision and sustainable outcomes will be a result of the continued support from our volunteers, local businesses, partnering organizations and our sponsors, who all share a belief that a strong downtown is an essential component to the integrity of a community.
What is Main Street and How Does It Work?
For more than 35 years, the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has been helping communities revitalize their downtowns. The movement is the leading voice for preservation-based economic development and community revitalization across the country, and has taken root in more than 2,000 communities. The Florida Department of Historic Resources’ Florida Main Street Program, ensures programs maintain the National standards while bringing State guidance and support to local Main Street organizations.
The Main Street program provides an organizational framework that helps communities develop and implement their own ideas to preserve and enhance their historic commercial districts. As a unique economic development tool, the Main Street approach is the foundation for local initiatives to revitalize their districts by leveraging local assets—from cultural or architectural heritage to local enterprises and community pride. The goal is to build a sustainable economic vitality effort. It is a grass-roots movement that has spurred $56 billion in reinvestment in traditional commercial districts nationwide, galvanized thousands of volunteers, and changed the way governments, planners, and developers view preservation.
Local programs are volunteer-driven, locally envisioned, and community-based. The local Main Street program in Apalachicola was founded in 2011. A healthy downtown Apalachicola embodies the true heritage and identity of community life. We are focused on retaining the real sense of community that Downtown provides through preservation, events, beautification, economic development initiatives, and community involvement.
