For the better part of two decades, Karen Thompson has been involved in the revitalization of downtown neighborhoods.
“She has such an extensive background with a successful main street program,” Yvonne Fry, a Plant City Main Street board member, said. “She thought it was a great fit, and so did we.”
Thompson is the new executive director of Plant City Main Street, a position she’s held since early March. The married mother of four began working with Main Street Winter Haven in 2003.
She previously owned and operated Baby Carriage in Winter Haven, but decided to be a stay-at-home mom following the birth of her fourth child, Lauren. She quickly realized that home life wasn’t for her.
“I love being a mom,” Thompson said. “But I enjoy being a busy mom.”
Having seen some of the work Winter Haven Main Street was able to accomplish, she knew she wanted to help. Shortly after, she was selected to be the organization’s assistant director, a position she held for seven years before becoming executive director.
While in Winter Haven, Thompson was able to establish a number of events including Bark in the Park, wine tastings and concerts that brought people and their pocketbooks into the businesses of downtown Winter Haven.
With her home in Winter Haven only 25 minutes away, Thompson is no stranger to Plant City. She visited the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World often, even looking to borrow elements from Plant City’s Bike Fest to start one in Winter Haven.
“I fell in love with the flow, the history, the vibe,” Thompson said. “I saw a lot of potential.”
The idea of revitalization became her passion, and her efforts eventually extended beyond Winter Haven’s downtown. In 2011, she started Chain of Life Winter Haven to apply the strategies she learned about downtown revitalization to the lakes of Winter Haven, known as the “Chain of Lakes City.” She also began consulting for Main Street projects across Florida.
Now, Plant City is her primary focus.
LOCAL EFFORT, BIG PICTURE
Main Street America is a national organization that combines grassroots organization and coordinated programs through all levels of government to aid in preservation and revitalization of historic downtown districts.
Since 1980, the organization has secured more than $65.6 billion, netted more than 55,000 new jobs and rehabilitated more than 260,000 buildings in about 2,000 communities across the country, according to the organization’s website.
Florida joined the Main Street Program in 1985. Plant City was one of the first to charter with the new organization.
“Main Streets aren’t necessarily meant to go on and on and on,” Fry said. “That original group accomplished what they needed to, but there was not an active charter for a long time.”
According to Fry, City Manager Mike Herr championed the idea of bringing Main Street back to Plant City. He brought in Ronni Wood, the coordinator for Florida Main Street and former executive director of Main Street programs in Winter Haven and Lake Wales to see what might be feasible in Plant City. In 2016, a new charter was formed: Plant City Main Street. The new organization sought to understand the importance of Main Street’s four-point approach of organization, promotion, design and economic vitality.
Having highlighted key areas for revitalization — including Historic Downtown — Plant City Main Street began encouraging the community to attend newly-organized events, including the monthly food truck rallies on Palmer Street. With Thompson at the helm, the organization hopes to grow even stronger.
Thompson said having a city that supports Main Street is essential. Financially, the city has done just that. According to Diane Reichard, chief financial officer for Plant City, the city has provided $50,000 to the organization in its inaugural year. Additional funding comes from fundraisers, memberships and grants.
With Thompson established in her new role, the board will be having a retreat to create its roadmap and calendar for the coming year. Thompson said she has her vision and wish list, but that she first must hear from the board in order to determine how to work with the goals and needs of the city.
She plans to use her experience and the resources provided by the national Main Street network to continue her string of success in Plant City.
“When you’re a Main Street city, you have a small army behind you,” Thompson said. “You can call on the success and the failures of other Main Streets. Plant City is well on their way. This is where it’s at.”
Contact Daniel Figueroa IV at dfigueroa@plantcityobserver.com