2024: A Year of Preservation, Progress, and Community
As we reflect on 2024, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation’s journey has been marked by significant victories, enhanced community engagement and a strengthened commitment to preserving Florida’s diverse heritage. From legislative achievements to expanded grant programs, we’ve worked together to protect and celebrate the places that tell Florida’s unique stories.
Legislative Victories & Advocacy
Our advocacy efforts in 2024 yielded substantial results for preservation across Florida:
- Successfully rallied public support against commercial development in Florida State Parks, leading to the shelving of controversial plans that would have impacted pristine natural and historic resources
- Secured nearly $9.6 million in funding for 36 Special Category Grant projects through the Division of Historical Resources Historic Preservation Grant program
- Advanced the Main Street Historical Tourism and Revitalization Act, which proposed establishing Florida’s first state historic tax credit to revitalize Main Street communities
- Achieved crucial amendments to the Resiliency and Safe Structures Act to protect National Register Historic Districts, safeguarding countless historic properties in coastal communities
Expanding Access & Inclusion
In the 45th year of our Florida Preservation awards, we implemented significant changes to broaden the reach of the program and the way we tell the full story of Florida’s preservation wins:
- For the first time, we eliminated nomination fees for the Florida Preservation Awards program and introduced three new categories to celebrate preservation: the Preserving Place Award for placemaking efforts, Volunteer of the Year Award and Historic Preservation Scholar Award
- Created the 11 to Save Grant Fund, providing direct financial support to endangered historic sites
Public Outreach and Advocacy
This year we continued our work to shine a light on some of our most endangered places spanning eleven counties and saw some significant wins:
- The John A. Gibson School in Pensacola, which, since our 11 to Save announcement has been purchased by the city for preservation
- Warm Mineral Springs Cyclorama in North Port has been saved and is now slated for rehabilitation
Community Impact & Education
The Trust expanded its educational reach through several key initiatives:
- Released the Florida Historic Preservation Toolkit, recognized with a Bicentennial Tallahassee/Leon County Historic Preservation Award
- Enhanced hurricane preparedness programs and response capabilities, particularly crucial during Hurricanes Helen and Milton
- Hosted the successful 2024 Preservation on Main Street Conference in Tallahassee, bringing together preservationists from across the state
Looking Ahead: 2025 Initiatives
As we move forward, the Florida Trust is focused on several key priorities:
- Strengthening resilience initiatives for historic resources in storm-vulnerable areas
- Expanding our Hurricane Response Committee capabilities to better serve communities affected by natural disasters
- Documenting Florida’s intangible heritage through community storytelling initiatives
- Growing the 11 to Save grant program through increased fundraising and community support
- Advocating at the federal level to protect the Historic Tax Credit and secure Congressional authorization for the Historic Preservation Fund
The Florida Trust enters 2025 with renewed energy and commitment to preserving the places and stories that make Florida unique. Through continued collaboration with our partners, supporters, volunteers, members, and communities across the state, we look forward to another year of protecting Florida’s extraordinary heritage.
Join Us in Preserving Florida’s Heritage
Support these initiatives through membership, donations, or volunteering. Explore fltrust.devlara.com/ to learn more about how you can help protect the places that matter to your community.
