Hastings Gets County Support for Main Street Program
Representatives of the area’s effort to join the statewide effort to improve economic development within a context of historic preservation briefed St. Johns County commissioners on the application process and sought county support.
“Our little organization kick started at the tail end of January,” said Sallie O’Hara, program manager of Hastings Main Street. “We are in our infancy and we have come a long way in six months.”
O’Hara said the benefits for Hastings to join the 57 other cities across the Sunshine State already designated a Florida Main Street community are “enormous” and include technical assistance, access to historic preservation information and suggestions for grant opportunities.
“The expected results include more jobs, more tax revenue for the area, and a sense of pride the community has built up,” she said. “We are looking forward to joining the communities.”
O’Hara said there are about 22 other cities applying for membership this year and five communities could be added to the list in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
A primary focus of the Main Street program is to revitalize communities to attract new business development and strengthen the local tax base while preserving historic resources and create new partnerships in downtown areas.
The application will be reviewed by the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources and requires local governments to provide a resolution of support.
Jenna Dennis, chair of Hastings Main Street, said the community has been blessed with the amount of support it has already received.
“We want to bring a lot of positive communication and positive growth,” she told commissioners. “We do appreciate very much all of your support.”
Commissioner Krista Joseph said she recently saw a presentation on the history of Hastings.
“It was really a Las Vegas in the day,” she said. “I’m totally supportive of this.”
Commission Chairman Christian Whitehurst said Hastings is exactly the kind of community the Main Street program is looking for.
“I think Hastings is sort of the perfect picture of what a Main Street should be,” he said. “I will make sure our legislative delegation understands our support.”
Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Hastings Main Street effort.
“Our little organization kick started at the tail end of January,” said Sallie O’Hara, program manager of Hastings Main Street. “We are in our infancy and we have come a long way in six months.”
O’Hara said the benefits for Hastings to join the 57 other cities across the Sunshine State already designated a Florida Main Street community are “enormous” and include technical assistance, access to historic preservation information and suggestions for grant opportunities.
“The expected results include more jobs, more tax revenue for the area, and a sense of pride the community has built up,” she said. “We are looking forward to joining the communities.”
O’Hara said there are about 22 other cities applying for membership this year and five communities could be added to the list in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
A primary focus of the Main Street program is to revitalize communities to attract new business development and strengthen the local tax base while preserving historic resources and create new partnerships in downtown areas.
The application will be reviewed by the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources and requires local governments to provide a resolution of support.
Jenna Dennis, chair of Hastings Main Street, said the community has been blessed with the amount of support it has already received.
“We want to bring a lot of positive communication and positive growth,” she told commissioners. “We do appreciate very much all of your support.”
Commissioner Krista Joseph said she recently saw a presentation on the history of Hastings.
“It was really a Las Vegas in the day,” she said. “I’m totally supportive of this.”
Commission Chairman Christian Whitehurst said Hastings is exactly the kind of community the Main Street program is looking for.
“I think Hastings is sort of the perfect picture of what a Main Street should be,” he said. “I will make sure our legislative delegation understands our support.”
Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Hastings Main Street effort.
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