Descriptive Summary

Language
English

Administrative Information

Access restrictions
No restrictions.

Use Restrictions
No restrictions.

Preferred Citation
Sarasota County History Center Manuscript Collection

Provenance: Downtown Partnership

Historical Note

The Downtown Association of Sarasota was formed in 1974 in response to the enthusiasm and interests of citizens who were seeking a healthy and viable downtown community. The purpose of the association was to create the finest environment in which to live, work, shop, dine and be entertained. In 2006, the association changed their name to the Downtown Partnership of Sarasota, Inc.

The Partnership, a membership-based, not-for-profit organization in Sarasota, Florida brings together businesses, residents, merchants, not-for-profits, cultural groups, governments and other stakeholders to develop policies and implement programs that will make downtown the best it can be. The Partnership influences the downtown agenda by promoting our policies and addressing key issues, facilitating discussion among stakeholders and educating the community about the downtown.

Collection Overview

The Downtown Partnership of Sarasota, Inc. collection is arranged in nine series: meeting minutes, committee correspondence and office files, subject files, publications, accounting records, clippings, advertising and marketing materials and audio visual materials.

Meeting minutes consist of the minutes of the Board of Directors 1983, 1984 – 1988, 2001, 2002, 2003, minutes of the Executive Board and Task Force 1993 – 1997, and committee meeting reports 1986 – 1987.

Subject files address the following topics the arts, a commuter assistance program, the community foundation, city and county concurrency, conference center, economic development, homeless, housing, Keep Sarasota Beautiful, legislation, leadership, non-profits, N. Tamiami Trail sector, public relations, retail marketing, Sarasota County Tourist Driven Tax, trolley Marketing, tourism, Tourist Council, 2050 Plan, community development, fairgrounds, farmer’s market, the Green World, properties north of Fruitville Road, Kress building, Lakewood Ranch, Lemon Avenue Mall, library, long range plan, special service district, St. Armands, miscellaneous.

Newsletters include Downtown Idea Exchange dating from 1984 and 1984 – 2002, Downtown Promotion Reporter 199 – 1992, The Downtowner newsletter 1986 – April 2003. News clippings date 1980 – 1986, 1988 – 1989, and 1994.

Committee records span form 1986 – 1998 with the bulk of the materials from 1986 – 1987. Information on the following committees are held in this collection: beautification, chamber liaison, community service, historical observation, economic development, farmers market, financial and legal, general membership, government liaison, merchants liaison, newsletter, planning, program, public relations, special promotions, and think tank.  Public seminar conference committee records date from 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995, and 1997.

Accounting records date from 1981 – 2000 and consist of dues records, cash journals, accounting records, bank and financial statements, general ledgers, payroll records, tax records, bank statements and paid bills.

Advertising material consists of promotional buttons. There is a small collection of slides and negatives which document programs and events from 1982 – 1992.  There are 5 ½” vhs tapes.

1. Excerpts of David Sollenberger “City Life”, “City Focus”, no date
2. Holiday Walk Downtown Association, no date
3. Aerial views of Sarasota Celebrate, 2000
4. Downtown D-6 Days, 2001
5. Down Town Art Festival, no date