Fort Pierce put itself on the national map this month when it won the Great American Main Street Award -- an honor that recognizes downtown revitalization.

The seat of St. Lucie County became only the second Florida city to win the award. Deland was a previous recipient.

"It's huge," said Doris Tillman, manager of Main Street Fort Pierce. "It signals the rebirth of the city."

Long considered a backwater blighted by crime and urban decay, Fort Pierce languished while more affluent neighboring communities like Indian River County's Vero Beach and Martin County's Stuart prospered and grew.

Formed in 1998 to help revitalize downtown, Main Street Fort Pierce began with a modest $65,000 budget. Today, the organization has a $450,000 budget and an impressive roster of good works behind it.

Beth Williams, a volunteer and board president, said the group led efforts to restore the historic Sunrise Theatre, which now attracts more than 50,000 visitors a year downtown. Main Street also purchased and rehabilitated several other historic buildings, including the 1895-vintage Backus House, which now serves as the organization's headquarters.

"This brought more focus to the northern edge of downtown. Now we're seeing more rehabilitation of homes. It's been a real stimulus for Edgartown," Williams said of the down-at-the-heels enclave.

According to data supplied by the organization, 503 net new jobs and 101 new businesses have been added downtown during Main Street's tenure, with total public/private construction expenditures of $173 million.

Over its 23-year history, the group has logged 38,553 volunteer hours.

After salvaging and renovating the old city hall and building a local Manatee Observation Center in recent years, Main Street Fort Pierce isn't going to rest on its laurels.

"This is an economic development tool," Tillman said, noting that her group managed a $200,000 grant from the city and raised $150,000 more in private funding to complete the Manatee project.

Going forward, Tillman said, "I would love to see a hotel where the old power plant was across the street."

Meantime, fun-seeking crowds continue to build in the Sunrise City. Each Saturday morning, thousands flock to one of the state's premier farmer's market, which features live music on the city's picturesque waterfront and an adjacent craft fair.

Live music and eclectic dining are available throughout the day and evening in the compact, walkable downtown.

In a field of 12 national finalists this year, Main Street Fort Pierce scored highly on a list of four key indicators: design (planning/zoning), organization, promotion and economic restructuring, said Teresa Lynch, senior program officer for the national Main Street program.

Four other U.S. cities were honored: Beloit, Wis.; Lansing, Mich.; Newark, Del.; and Silver City, N.M.

Joan Jefferson, coordinator for Florida's Main Street program, applauded Fort Pierce's efforts.

"They've worked hard for 20 years to change the face of the community. They've attracted thousands of people to downtown," Jefferson said.