No matter where residents might call home in Winter Haven, Anita Horn believes downtown is the heart of the city.
"No matter if you live near Cypress Gardens or Lake Lulu, this is your downtown," says Horn, the incoming Main Street Winter Haven Inc. president. "We want this to be where everyone comes."
Horn is no stranger to Main Street. She has been a small business owner in the downtown area, first designing custom drapery and now as part owner of La Vita Dolce, for seven years and on the Main Street board for four years.
Originally from Alabama, Horn attended her first Main Street meeting after receiving a flyer concerning the Main Street project.
"By sitting in on those meetings, I knew what was going on," she explains. "The process of our sidewalks being ripped up in front of our stores was pretty painful, but in the end it was fantastic."
She says that during the meetings, business owners and mangersy were encouraged to be patient and kept informed of the progress.
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Anita Horn the incoming president of Main Street Winter Haven sits on a bench in downtown Winter Haven.
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"Back then, there were a lot of empty storefronts in downtown," she says, "but all along I have found it to be absolutely charming."
The mother of two high school students sees the challenge of her new position as more of an opportunity - not just for her but for the entire city. Excitement and optimism exude from Horn as she discusses the upcoming year.
"Anita's dedication and enthusiasm for making downtown Winter Haven a premier destination is obvious to all of us at Main Street," says Kemp Brinson, vice president of Main Street Winter Haven and an attorney with Clark, Campbell, Mawhinney and Lancaster, P.A. "Her shop is more than her business. She treats it as an opportunity to help create a better community. She's diplomatic and kind but never afraid to speak up for what she believes in - a perfect advocate for downtown."
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Anita Horn co-owns La Vita Dolce, located in downtown Winter Haven, with her friend and business partner, Jennifer Olivia.
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Horn says she is energized about the upcoming year, with the board having restructured the Main Street budget, hired a new executive director and planned for renovations and upcoming events.
"Last year was a tough year economically for everyone," Horn says. "Financially, we weren't able to do as much as we would have liked, but the budget has been restructured and it is great."
Karen Thompson was recently hired on as the new Main Street executive director.
"Karen is doing a fantastic job," Horn says. "I will be in touch with her daily to make sure that everything is on schedule and going well."
In her new role, Horn also will attend as many committee meetings as possible, plus attend the executive committee meetings held once or twice a month.
"The design committee will work with the business owners to help keep the historical design alive as much as possible," she says.
"I also want to build on the current relationships that we have with the city," Horn says. "Building relationships is what is important."
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Anita Horn walks down an alley off Central Avenue in downtown area that will receive a make over. The alley is just one of the Main Street Winter Haven projects that Horn is excited about.
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Horn's excitement is fueled by the Ridge Art Association's upcoming move to downtown, the Ritz Theatre renovation, Carols in the Park and a holiday window-decorating contest.
"We want downtown to be a place where people come to eat, do some shopping, maybe get their hair cut," she says. "Plus, see their attorney or doctors, as well as shop in retail stores."
The Third Street streetscape improvement project is finished, and Horn says the 40 added parking spots are just what downtown needed and patrons requested.
"I could have opened a business anywhere," she says, "but I am truly passionate about downtown and take great pride in it and the wonderful people who are a part of it."
