Article submitted by Florida Main Street. Photos by Larry Oskin
Exciting things are happening in historic Downtown Clermont as residents, downtown business owners and community leaders joined City officials to celebrate the area’s designation as a Florida Main Street Community and learn more about its new branding campaign: “Lure of The Lake. Gem of The Hills.”
To celebrate the new branding, a ribbon-cutting was hosted by the South Lake Chamber of Commerce. During the event, a vibrant new logo and supporting marketing materials were unveiled as well as new Main Street signage and banners lining the area’s streets and South Lake Trail.
The new branding honoring Clermont’s roots and rich history was designed to evoke the charm of Downtown Clermont, warm lake breezes and abundant trails that entice visitors and residents to rediscover all the diverse shopping, dining and recreational opportunities that abound here year-round.
“If you have spent time in Downtown Clermont, you’ve experienced the unique vibe of old-time nostalgia and indie trends of today,” said Barbara Hollerand, Executive Director of Clermont Main Street. “We wanted to promote that undeniable charm and novelty by paying homage to the rich history of the area as well as conveying the economic opportunity and diversity here.”
In Downtown Clermont, historic buildings and brick streets fuse with new places and experiences. To celebrate this union, the new brand unites the area’s historical slogan–“gem 
of the hills”–with Downtown’s other intrinsic feature: the undeniable “lure of the lake.” It’s symbolic of old versus new and authentic to the history that makes this destination within Clermont so special. In addition, the new logo integrates the date of Clermont’s origin (1884) as yet another way of acknowledging the history that created this place and to successfully brand, position and market it as a destination.
Key elements of the new branding campaign: the new website, ClermontDowntown.com is the official downtown guide to Clermont and features easy-to-navigate content on where to shop, dine and play as well as exploring eclectic opportunities to enjoy art and cultural experiences. A new video showcasing the transformational changes taking place within the district is also featured on @historicdowntownclermont on Facebook, @downtownclermont on Instagram and YouTube.
Phase I of the downtown banner program will include 50 banners along Lake Minneola with the new branding and taglines. The Main Street sign was placed at Eighth Street and Osceola Street to let trail users know they were entering a Main Street community. A second Main Street sign is located at the Downtown Clermont gateway at Highway 50 and Eighth Street.
For more information, visit www.ClermontMainSt.com and contact Barbara Hollerand at: 352-242-9959 or email: downtownclermont@gmail.com or BarbaraHollerand@Yahoo.com.
