The Florida Department of State has officially designated Avon Park as a “Florida Main Street of the Month” for March 2026. The distinction places the city among only two programs selected for recognition out of more than 50 active Main Street organizations statewide.
“We can’t even begin to explain how excitied we are right now, ” said Avon Park Main Street Executive Director Jane Benham.
The announcement comes just five months after the organization’s formal incorporation and the signing of its master agreement with the City of Avon Park on October 1, of last year.
Rapid Operational Growth
Since its inception, the program has moved aggressively to establish a downtown presence, opening a dedicated Main Street office and gift shop while growing its membership base to over 35 members and four program partners. Key milestones achieved during this initial period include:
• Economic Development: Facilitating downtown tours for investors and creating comprehensive building and business inventories to track development opportunities.
• Small Business Support: Serving as the community lead for American Express “Shop Small Saturday” and establishing a Downtown Merchant Group to streamline communication between local business owners.
• Intergovernmental Relations: Initiating monthly collaboration meetings between the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the Chamber of Commerce, and Main Street to align municipal goals.
Community and State Engagement
The program’s leadership has maintained a high level of visibility at the state level. The recognition follows a meeting between the program’s Executive Director and Secretary of State Cord Byrd at the POMS25 conference, where the roadmap for reinstating the Avon Park Main Street program was first presented.
Local efforts have also focused on community identity, including raising $1,200 for the municipal Christmas tree and hosting a series of “community chats” to gather resident feedback via questionnaires and data collection.
Future Initiatives
Organization officials confirmed that several long-term projects are currently in the development phase, including:
• A downtown mural project and walkable district mapping.
• The launch of a formal grant season for local improvements.
• A localized tourism campaign designed to increase foot traffic within the historic district.
“You don’t just become Main Street of the Month; you earn it,” Benham stated in a brief release ahead of a formal press conference. “The State is recognizing the hard work happening in our ‘City of Charm,’ and we are just getting started.”
For more information on upcoming projects and membership, residents are encouraged to visit the Avon Park Main Street office or follow them on social media
