City to bring Main Street program into compliance

MILTON — Following the City Council's inquiry on the status of Milton’s Main Street Program, city staffers have researched the issue and provided criteria the organization must meet to become certified by the Florida Main Street Program and the National Main Street Center.

Out of 10 criteria, the Milton Main Street Program has yet to meet two; however, the organization has the opportunity to come into compliance before March 13 to stay active.

The national organization's criteria follow:

1. Hire a paid, full-time professional executive director
2. Include an active board of directors and committees
3. Offer relevant vision and mission statements
4. Have a comprehensive work plan and be active in all four points
5. Acquire board-based support for the commercial district revitalization process with strong support from public and private sectors
6. Adopt a historic preservation ethic
7. Outline an adequate operating budget
8. Run a program of on-going training for staff and volunteers
9. Report quarterly key reinvestment statistics to the state and national programs
10. Have Main Street designated membership with the national organization

Main Street Milton has neither an executive director, nor have they submitted quarterly reports since December 2016.

According to city staffers, the Main Street program budgets vary greatly, but will need an estimate of between $100,000 and $125,000. The initial program budget two years after inception in 2003 was $80,000.

Main Street Milton is governed by a board of directors, and has volunteers and members who include business owners and individuals. The organization once had more than 150 members but they are now down to half or less, according to Councilwoman Peggi Smith.

Anyone interested in downtown Milton revitalization efforts can participate with the organization. There is a $25 fee to join.

Main Street Milton works through four committees to further its goals and objectives of revitalization, according to the website. Those committees conduct meetings separate from regular meetings of the board of directors but make recommendations to the board of directors for decisions. The board meetings occur approximately once a month.

Main Street Milton's four committees focus on organization, design, promotion and economic revitalization. The organization’s mission is to preserve the historical character of downtown Milton while working to return downtown Milton’s historic commercial district to an active, lively community center with a strong economic base.

Main Street Milton partners with the city of Milton, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce and Santa Rosa County Tourism Development, as well as other local non-profits.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: City to bring Main Street program into compliance