Plant City Main Street, the not-for-profit organization that strives to bring economic vitality back downtown while celebrating its historic character, won big last week at the Preservation on Main Street Conference in Ocala. Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd presented the 2023 Florida Main Street Awards to organizations that achieved outstanding results in historic preservation and commercial activity through the Florida Main Street program.
“This year’s winners have shown a remarkable commitment to preserving the distinct heritage, traditions and culture that make their historic downtown attractive places for commerce,” said Byrd. “The Department of State is proud to showcase these success stories in the preservation and revitalization of Florida’s historic downtowns.”
Plant City Main Street won three awards.
It won the “Budget Hawk” award for last year’s Oktoberfest event, organized with a timeline of 60 days after a simple suggestion from the city manager. To make the event a reality, local government fast-tracked an open container ordinance that had been on the books for nearly 10 years. More than 15,000 people attended the inaugural event and local businesses saw record sales, made more impressive given that none of it was budgeted.
It also won in the “Celebrating Main Street” category for its Last Friday Food Truck Rally, which has grown for a small food truck rally and vendor market featuring 20 small businesses to a themed-event that has tripled in size to more than 60 vendors, several of whom have opened brick and mortar locations. It also organized Main Street Kids, a separate tent during the event where kids and their families can participate in a downtown scavenger hunt, and grab some free themed goodies.
“We started Main Street Kids because parents shouldn’t have to pay to create memories for their children,” said Plant City Main Street Director Dawn Hyatt, who attended the conference and accepted the awards on behalf of the organization.
“In this community one person can’t make something happen because it takes a community, it’s a team effort,” she said. “We couldn’t do this if we didn’t have the community and the city government supporting us the way they do.”
The last award went to Mayor Nate Kilton, one of three municipal leaders named Local Leader of the Year. Kilton, who was sworn in as mayor on June 30, 2022, is a Plant City Partner with his own local business, Sedita Kilton who frequently posts about Main Street programming and events via his personal and professional social media.
Commissioners Mary Mathis and Jason Jones drove to the conference to accept the award for Kilton, who was out of the country on a mission trip with his wife.
Mathis presented the award to him at this week’s city commission meeting. He was quick to divert praise to others. “It’s not about me, I’m just the tip of the spear,” he said. “I’ve been an advocate for Main Street for many years and whenever I’m in town I’m at the Last Friday because it’s a great event and so much fun and Oktoberfest was a grand slam.”
He recognized the hard work exerted by Hyatt, the past and current board of directors, its staff and many volunteers.
Plant City Main Street President Christy Lyle is thrilled with the growth of Plant City Main Street. “It’s grown so much, we have a vision plan and the city has worked to help it come to fruition,” she said. “When Dawn came on board we saw how much potential downtown Plant City had to be recognized at the state level.”