Eustis honored by Florida Main Street 

Eustis, FL – Florida Main Street awarded honors to the City of Eustis and to Eustis Main Street, Inc. at this year’s Florida Main Street conference held in DeLand.  Eustis won the award for Outstanding Public Improvement and Eustis Main Street won honors for Outstanding Image Campaign.  The awards were presented by Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Phillip Wisley.

Eustis’ streetscape project which began in May 2010 as a result of the 2008 Downtown Master Plan, was completed in October.  During construction, a communication plan was implemented and weekly

Pictured from left to right:  Phillip Wisley, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer;  Wayne Carter, Executive Director, Eustis Main Street, Inc.; B.E. Thompson, President, Board of Directors, Eustis Main Street, Inc; Eustis Mayor Michael Holland;  and Eustis City Manager Paul Berg.

meetings were held with the City engineer and contractor to provide a two-week look ahead for the local merchants and property owners. 

Outages of water, electric, gas, and communication utilities were scheduled at times convenient for the businesses.  Also, a weekly promotion marketing piece was distributed by the City, Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce, Eustis Main Street, Inc., and the Daily Commercial newspaper.  These efforts were very instrumental in the success of the businesses during the streetscape project.  No businesses closed during the construction.  Since completion in October 2010, pedestrian traffic has increased and new businesses have opened in the historic downtown.

Eustis Main Street’s Public Arts and Music committee “Art in the Air” project featured 56 hand painted canvas banners. The talents of 48 professional and emerging artists were displayed in the historic downtown.   The public was able to view the outdoor art exhibit during the months of January and February.  The Public Arts and Music committee’s goal is to provide free access to the arts so that all may benefit from it.   

Florida Main Street is a technical assistance program administered by the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, for traditional historic commercial corridors.  The Bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating, and preserving Florida's historic resources. Main Street is an effective strategy in achieving these goals in Florida's historic retail districts.  Since 1985, the Bureau has offered manager training, consultant team visits, design and other technical assistance, as well as the benefit of experience gained by other Florida Main Street programs.  There are 48 Florida Main Street communities.

Eustis Main Street, Inc. is a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization and is Nationally Accredited. Its mission is to organize and assist in the revitalization of downtown Eustis.  Main Street uses the Four Point Approach to Commercial District Revitalization.  For more information about Eustis Main Street or Public Arts and Music visit www.EustisMainStreet.org.

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Media contact information:

Wayne Carter, Executive Director

Eustis Main Street, Inc.

Phone:  (352) 357-8555  • Email:   director@eustismainstreet.org