LaBelle Downtown Revitalization Corporation (LDRC), a Main Street Community, is proud to announce three Secretary of State 2015 Florida Main Street Merit Awards. These merit awards were presented on August 18, 2015, at the Florida Main Street annual conference in St. Petersburg. They were presented by Deputy Secretary of State Kerri Post and Coordinator of the Florida Main Street Program, Ronni Wood, at the Vinoy Renaissance Golf Club.

LDRC’s Program Manager, Kim Gillman, along with board members Shellie Johnson, Sherrie Easterly, and Terri Marsh and newly elected City Commissioner Julie Wilkins accepted the awards on behalf of the LDRC organization for 1) Outstanding Special Event for Wharf Walk; 2) Outstanding Fundraising or Membership Development Effort for the Fort Thompson Parklet; and 3) Outstanding Business of the Year for the Caloosa Belle.

Pictured from left: Dale Conyers, representing the Caloosa Belle, LDRC Program Manager Kim Gillman and LDRC Board Member Shelly Johnson proudly show off the group’s Florida Main Street awards. (Submitted photo)[/caption]

“Our board and our community have worked hard in our first year of organization, and we are very proud of all the work we have done for the downtown historic district of LaBelle. The volunteers that pulled together to construct the Fort Thompson Parklet and the community that came out to purchase engraved bricks to show support of this effort proves that what we are doing is and will make a difference to the heart of our LaBelle community.”

Kim Gillman accepted the award for Patty Brant of the Caloosa Belle. The award is in recognition of the paper’s support and unending efforts to put the LDRC’s efforts in the media to get the word out of its goals and accomplishments.

The awards program encourages and acknowledges local Main Street Program accomplishments that advance the goals of the Florida Main Street Program, which is a technical assistance program of the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, Bureau of Historic Preservation. This bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating, and preserving Florida’s historic resources. Main Street, with its emphasis on preservation, is an effective strategy for achieving these goals in Florida’s historic retail districts. Since 1985, the bureau has offered manager training, consultant team visits, design, and other technical assistance, as well as the benefit of experience gained by other Florida Main Street Programs.

LaBelle is one of forty three designated communities in the Florida Main Street Program.

About the LaBelle Downtown Revitalization Corporation (LDRC):

The LDRC is a 501c3 nonprofit agency with a vested interest in improving the appearance and economic stability of historic Downtown LaBelle. The mission of the LDRC is to encourage the redevelopment of LaBelle through public, private, and nonprofit investment in the downtown. A vibrant, revitalized downtown brings value and expands opportunities for the community. For more information, visit www.downtownlabelle.com.