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About Us...

The Heart of Brevard is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to maintain a vital downtown.  Revitalization is done through design, economic restructuring, promotion, and organization.

The Heart of Brevard (HOB) has a professional staff and is guided by a board of directors made up of downtown business owners and civic leaders.  It is primarily funded by tax revenue from the downtown businesses and properties within the 16-block Municipal Services District.  Additional revenue is received from the City of Brevard and festival sponsors.

The Heart of Brevard is affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program.  This is a nationwide program designed to promote downtown as a vital community center.  Improving economic development, strengthening public participation, and making downtown a fun place to visit are as critical to a downtown’s future as are recruiting new businesses, rehabilitating buildings, and maximizing pedestrian comfort and safety.

The Heart of Brevard officially became a Main Street program in 1993.

Why is Downtown Brevard Important?

Downtown is a major employer.

The Heart of Brevard alone has 110 businesses. When you include the rest of the downtown district you have over 200 businesses and almost  1000 people working in Brevard’s downtown.

Downtown consists primarily of locally-owned independent businesses.

Except for the city, county, and federal governments, the other businesses in downtown Brevard are owned by independent small business owners. 

Downtown is a great incubator for a new business. 

Rental rates are often less expensive in Brevard’s downtown.  New businesses also benefit from the success of close, neighboring businesses.

Downtown provides many essential goods and services for the community. 

Downtown Brevard not only has City Hall, the County Courthouse, the federal Post Office, the Visitors Center, the Public Library, a first-run movie theatre, the telephone company, the newspaper,  the Tinsley Museum, a gas station.  But the downtown contains many essential professional services providers:  physicians, dentists, attorneys, bankers, hair stylists, insurance agents, investment brokers, architects, therapists, computer specialists, bakers, real estate brokers, accountants, florist.  All this plus the many restaurants, galleries, and retail businesses that include hardware, jewelry, clothing and outdoor wear, kitchen ware, wine and cheese, candies, antique and home furnishings, Christmas ornaments.

Downtown represents a significant portion of the city’s tax base.

Not only do property owners enhance the city’s tax base, but shoppers and visitors help keep taxes and profits in the community.

Downtown is the historic core of the city.

Many of the buildings from the 1920s remain due to millions of dollars of private investment to help retain the community’s heritage and pride of its past.

Downtown is a central community gathering place.

Brevard’s downtown encourages residents and visitors to congregate for parades, street festivals, and special events that reinforce the sense of place and being part of a community.

To learn more about the Heart of Brevard, contact us