DeLand, FL - Downtown DeLand has won the America's Main Streets contest after several rounds of voting and judging.
After 300,000 votes were cast nationwide, narrowing down 242 Main Streets from 48 states into 10 finalists, Downtown DeLand was chosen by a panel of judges for the title.
“I want to thank the people who made us deserving of this title,” says Wayne Carter, MainStreet DeLand Association Executive Director. “The businesses, the property owners and our residents make Downtown DeLand the best Main Street in America.”
This year was the second year of the contest presented by Stihl Inc. and a non-profit organization, Independent We Stand, which advocates for small, independently-owned businesses.
“MainStreet DeLand has worked long and hard to reinvigorate the downtown. At one point over half of the downtown buildings were vacant. Now it is clearly the pride and joy of the community,” says the co-founder of Independent We Stand, Bill Brunelle. “The purpose of the America’s Main Streets contest is to highlight the type of leadership and longstanding commitment to community that MainStreet DeLand provides.”
MainStreet DeLand will receive a $25,000 cash prize, $1,000 towards STIHL outdoor power equipment, a 1-year subscription to SnapRetail for a new website and email and social media marketing, and two $500 shopping sprees with both Do-it Best Corp and PPG Pittsburg Paints.
In the future, Independent We Stand and MainStreet DeLand will work together to host a "Main Streets Make Us Better" event.
“So many people have worked over the years to build MainStreet DeLand into what it is today, and this award validates all of that effort,” says DeLand Mayor, Bob Apgar. “It’s an honor and I couldn’t be more proud to say that I live, work and play in the home of America’s Main Street.”
Apgar believes the title will help put "DeLand on the map."
More information about the contest can be found here.
Photo courtesy of Dmitry Kaminsky and Shutterstock.com.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
