[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11478-11479]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING DADE CITY, FLORIDA, FOR THEIR MAIN STREET RENOVATION 
                                PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 7, 2007

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the outstanding steps taken by Dade City leaders to renovate 
and improve their Main Street area. These efforts to revitalize Main 
Street have made Dade City one of the brightest spots on the Gulf Coast 
of Florida. On May 18, 2007, Dade City is celebrating its 20th 
anniversary as part of Florida's Main Street program.
  Noticing a decline in the beauty and economic vitality of Dade City's 
downtown in the 1980s, local leaders began to look into joining the 
Main Street program. Pat Weaver, Otto

[[Page 11479]]

Weitzenkorn, Helen Brandt and the late Lewis Abraham banded together to 
find the resources to send representatives to the annual Main Street 
meeting in Orlando.
  The Orlando meeting taught these concerned residents how to implement 
the ``Main Street Four-Point Approach,'' a comprehensive strategy 
tailored to meet local needs and opportunities. The approach 
encompasses work in four distinct areas: design, economic 
restructuring, promotion, and organization. Ms. Weaver and Ms. Brandt 
returned from the meeting with a plan to develop a strong base of local 
business owners and citizens to see this concept through to becoming 
reality in Dade City. In 1985, they received a technical assistance 
program by the Department of State, Bureau of Historic Preservation 
through the Florida Main Street program. In April 1987, downtown Dade 
City was officially designated a Florida Main Street community.
  On May 18, the Downtown Dade City Main Street program is celebrating 
its 20th anniversary with a party at one of its highly touted area 
restaurants. In reflecting on its history, the Downtown Dade City Main 
Street program has distinguished itself as one of the exemplary models 
of the Florida Main Street program. In addition, it has been successful 
in downtown restoration projects such as the Historic Courthouse, the 
establishment of the Community Redevelopment Agency to fund long-range 
downtown projects, the facade improvement grant, and for the millions 
of dollars it has helped bring to downtown construction and restoration 
projects.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud all the men and women who have contributed 
to the success of the Dade City Main Street program over the past 
twenty years. These individuals exemplify how working tirelessly on 
downtown renovation and revitalization can reverse the decline of a 
community. This program continues to remain a vital part of downtown 
Dade City, and I commend those involved for their efforts to keep Dade 
City vibrant and unique with its quaint shops and small town 
atmosphere.

                          ____________________