MAIN STREET WAUCHULA 

Main Street Wauchula was designated by the State of Florida in 1995.  Over the past 14 years the organization has seen many changes in the downtown.  From the creation of Main Street Heritage Park to the beautiful streetscape completed in 2008, the downtown has once again become a center of activity enjoyed by the local community, businesses and visitors.  Main Street Wauchula has been an integral part of this positive transformation. 

In 2008 Main Street Wauchula became a part of the City of Wauchula.  Further ensuring the success of the organization, the office of Main Street moved into 107 E. Main Street to share space with the county Economic Development Office as well as the Hardee County Chamber of Commerce.  These three organizations share the common goal of economic development, and by pooling resources the downtown, as well as greater Wauchula and Hardee County, will thrive.

Main Street Wauchula is a part of the National Trust for Historic Preservations Main Street Center. In 1979, a group of visionaries from the National Trust realized that the only way our small-town architecture would be preserved is if small-town businesses were able to be successful enough to take care of their buildings. Thus, Main Street was born.

Main Street focuses on a Four-Point Approach to revitalization: Organization, Design, Promotion, and Economic Restructuring. This approach combines historic preservation with economic development to restore prosperity and vitality to downtowns and neighborhood business districts.

Design
involves enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by capitalizing on its best assets — such as historic buildings and pedestrian-oriented streets. An inviting atmosphere, created through attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping, conveys a positive visual message about the commercial district and what it has to offer. Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, and long-term planning.

Organization
Involves getting everyone working toward the same goal and assembling the appropriate human and financial resources to implement a Main Street revitalization program. A governing board and standing committees make up the fundamental organizational structure of the volunteer-driven program. Volunteers are coordinated and supported by a paid program director as well. This structure not only divides the workload and clearly delineates responsibilities, but also builds consensus and cooperation among the various stakeholders.

Promotion
Sells a positive image of the commercial district and encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the Main Street district. By marketing a district's unique characteristics to residents, investors, business owners, and visitors, an effective promotional strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events, and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers. These activities improve consumer and investor confidence in the district and encourage commercial activity and investment in the area.

Economic Restructuring
Strengthens a community's existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base. The Main Street program helps sharpen the competitiveness of existing business owners and recruits compatible new businesses and new economic uses to build a commercial district that responds to today's consumers' needs. Converting unused or underused commercial space into economically productive property also helps boost the profitability of the district.