Downtown Development

The Downtown Development Department manages the revitalization of the downtown redevelopment district, which includes the National Register-listed historic district, Irby Street Corridor Overlay District, and South Carolina Arts Alliance Cultural District. The department works with existing businesses and property owners to renovate or rehabilitate existing properties as well as with local entrepreneurs on the development of new business in the downtown area.

The Downtown Development Department is a member of South Carolina Main Street and National Main Street , organizations dedicated to preservation-based economic development. Downtown Florence is a Nationally Accredited Main Street Program and won the Great American Main Street Award presented by Main Street America in 2023. The department provides resources to small business owners including business plan review, assistance with marketing, and administers the City of Florence Downtown Redevelopment Grant and Façade Grant programs.

The Downtown Development Office also manages the day-to-day operations of the Florence Downtown Development Corp. (FDDC), a 501c3 non-profit organization responsible for hosting many of the downtown street festivals and events including the award-winning South Carolina Pecan Music and Food Festival and Florence After Five concert series. FDDC also coordinates all downtown promotions and image marketing for the district.

You can learn more about Downtown Florence on a dedicated website.