Arcadia Main Street

08/26/2026

Congratulations Arcadia!!

Congratulations Arcadia Main Street!

Today, Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that Arcadia Main Street, located in DeSoto County, has been designated the August 2026 Florida Main Street Program of the Month.

“The success of the Arcadia Main Street program reflects the value of community driven revitalization,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “Through dedicated leadership, strong partnerships, and preserving their historic character, Arcadia has fostered a unique sense of place and a vibrant downtown district. The community’s dedication to patriotism continues to foster foundational freedoms and opportunity throughout the state.”

More here: https://dos.fl.gov/communications/press-releases/2026/secretary-byrd-designates-arcadia-main-street-as-florida-main-street-program-of-the-month/

08/26/2026

Congratulations Arcadia!!

Secretary Byrd Designates Arcadia Main Street (AMS) as Florida Main Street Program of the Month! Since 1985, AMS has generated $7,828,034 in public and private investments. The district has seen an increase of 48 net new businesses that have created 193 net new jobs, and over 12,811 volunteer hours have been recorded.
AMS was recently awarded an AARP Community Challenge grant and an America250FL grant which they used to helped to make navigating downtown easier with wayfinding signs and beautification projects including three new murals, painted flowerpots, and landscaping.
Congratulations!

08/25/2026

We’re so CHIC, support downtown and you can be CHIC too!!

08/19/2026

Please read!!

A building is a business. I repeat, a building is a business.

The community and economic development world gives an outsized amount of attention to business owners but leaves building owners jilted, pining in the shadows, just waiting for a little love.

Entrepreneurship makes Main Street go round, but building owners are entrepreneurs too. They should be getting a lot more attention. Because if you don't have any good building owners, you aren't going to have any good business owners.

The truth is, if a building is sitting empty on Main Street and no one is actively trying to sell or lease it, consider it unavailable. Whether it's part of a trust, owned by some family in Florida, or part of a portfolio being used as a tax write-off, it doesn't matter. That building is not a candidate for any of the businesses you are developing.

Your only hope is replacing the owner.

This is why identifying and fostering potential local developers is just as important as working with existing building owners. There are plenty of business entrepreneurs out there. There are almost no building entrepreneurs, because nobody is providing them the same resources.

Yet they are vital to the health of your downtown.

08/18/2026

Looking for help with a Basic Business Plan to start you Business, this workshop can get you started. Sign up today!!

Small business owners: Join our final webinar in our Access to Small Business Capital series on Wednesday, August 19 at 3 p.m.

Join us for Business Plan Basics — the workshop that takes you from concept to confident. Whether you're starting from scratch or finally ready to put your vision on paper, this hands-on session will walk you through everything you need to build a solid business plan.

Register now: https://savingplaces-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kq3aVYfGQlGNtAAvQT72Qg #/registration

08/15/2026

Even with road construction, wonderful things are happening downtown. Improvements that will amount to large investment in the district. Thank you to all our building owners that invest in their buildings and keep the facades looking good. You play a major role in the success of our downtown.

08/05/2026

Free education for small businesses!

Through a partnership with the US Bank Foundation, Main Street America is hosting webinars for small business owners to help them gain the skills to access capital and build strong and sustainable ventures.

Join us for the next webinar, Business Plan Basics, coming up on Wednesday, August 19 at 3 p.m. ET.

Register now: https://bit.ly/49KrWlf

08/02/2026

07/28/2026

Shop Downtown Arcadia!!