Every year, the Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) recognizes the best in redevelopment in the State of Florida in ten categories. The FRA chose the Port St. Joe Redevelopment Agency’s “Historic Banner” series to receive the “Cultural Enhancement” award. This is a state-wide program, and we are thrilled to be in the company of major Florida cities who enter this yearly competition. PSJ was also featured in the FRA’s “Best Book” publication, with photos and description of the banners.
 
The banner series was the result of collaboration between three local agencies: the PSJRA, Gulf Alliance for Local Arts (GALA) and the Tourist Development Council (TDC). GALA continues to provide a rich resource of local artists from whom to chose, who to date have graciously provided original work at an affordable rate, with rights to reproduction. The TDC provides additional funding for banners and for collateral material.
 
The artist, Chuck Creasy, was an active GALA member and a past President of the GALA Board of Directors.
 
 
I. Innovation: Historic Banner Series
 
The Port St. Joe Redevelopment Agency’s (PSJRA) Banner Program commissions local artists who create unique, original art to showcase the history and theme of the city. The displayed banners inform and beckon visitors to stay and get to know us a little better, thus also benefiting local business. The inaugural banner series depicted local, coastal scenes. The historic series displays four images on four separate banners, each illustrating a defining feature of each one-hundred-year span:
 
1600’s – A Native American
1700’s – A Privateer (Pirate)
1800’s – The Apalachicola Railroad, with Railroad Workers
1900’s – A Shrimp Boat, with Shrimpers
 
The artist, Chuck Creasy, wrote the following of his inspiration for this project:
 
We have a unique opportunity with this campaign to begin the branding process for the City of Port St. Joe. This community is unique to most in the Northwestern Florida area. It is built upon a rich quiltwork of history that is steeped in romantic visions of a strong people exploring, settling and carving out a viable “sense of place” from the roughness of a land that was seemingly uninhabitable. From the ancient serenity of its native peoples to the advent of explorers, privateers and early European settlers, Port St. Joe teems with images of independence. And it’s from their courageous past that the community has evolved into a gem of opportunity for a continuing line of “explorers.” Today, Port St. Joe can look back on its early history and draw from it a pride of independence, loyalty, courage, natural beauty and determination to take her into the future.
 
The history of Port St. Joe, originally founded as St. Joseph, could be right out of the story books, and is a colorful and authentic foundation on which to build our civic theme. The city was founded in 1835 on the shores of St. Joseph Bay, one of the finest natural harbors on the Gulf Coast. The most populous (and exciting) place in the territory in Florida, it was chosen as the location to sign the Florida State Constitution on December 3, 1838. This boomtown and cultural mecca was destroyed as the result of two events. In 1841, a ship from the West Indies brought yellow fever to the area, killing most of the inhabitants and causing the rest to flee. The 1843 hurricane created a large storm surge, destroying what remained of the abandoned town.
 
Remaining uninhabited for the rest of the 19th century, the current city, Port St. Joe, was founded in 1913 about two miles north of old St. Joseph. The new city enjoyed rapid growth—building new docks, a sawmill, and trading such products as lumber, turpentine and sugarcane. It also became a resort destination for recreational tourists to enjoy the shoreline. By 1925, the timber industry had logged out the pine and cedar. Again, the city experienced a tragic, sudden, and decisive decline.
 
The third “birth” of the city was the result of the accumulation of property by Alfred DuPont and Edward Ball to become the St. Joe Paper Company, with the mill opening in 1938. Over time, amid union disputes and economic difficulties, the St. Joe Paper Company sold the mill; and under the new ownership, the mill declared bankruptcy in 1999. As a “mill town,” this closing devastated the economy and the population, yet again.
 
Today, Port St. Joe is poised to be reborn for the fourth time. This time, the city has set its sights on not only becoming a high-end destination resort, but to reopen the port, bring in Sacred Heart Hospital and develop diversity in business to no longer rely on one major industry.
 
The tag line of the PSJRA is “Celebrate Port St. Joe.” This historic banner series allows not only the community, but visitors alike, to understand and enjoy the city’s rich history. In fact the tag line on the banners reads, “A Rich History. An Exciting Future.”
 
Our history also separates PSJ from other coastal communities, and the banner series has helped the city develop its unique “brand” and “theme.” The banners illustrate the depth of character and history…a city that, out of shear grit and strength of character, has reinvented itself time and again.
 
II. Impact on the Community
 
A. Economic
 
The banners, flying along the street of the business district, along the marina entrance and the Dr. Joe Memorial Parking Lot, provide a visual invitation for visitors to stop and take a closer look at our community. Thus, the banners bring increased tourism, increased business and are an aesthetically pleasing beacon.
 
B. Social
 
The social aspects demonstrate the diversity of the community. Future banner programs will focus on current ethnic diversity and community themes. Community input has been requested from the beginning, and we continue to receive suggestions and recommendations relative to new campaign themes.
 
C. Design
 
The designs of the historic banner series are commissioned, original art—with all but one unique to our area. The designs enrich our community aesthetically and foster a sense of pride. In addition to the historic series, existing designs include our lighthouse with a holiday wreath, a fishing boat, an oar draped with floats, and the Statue of Liberty, surrounded by fireworks in the night sky.
 
D. Cultural
 
The history and diversity of our past and present is depicted in the banner art. This is not a fantasy – this is real, authentic, documented history – and something we can continue to accentuate and build upon to retain our unique culture and depth of character. Further and importantly, we can accomplish this in tandem with the new and state-of-the-art development by the St. Joe Company in their WindMark Beach development so as to not be overshadowed or displaced by their spectacular vision.
 
III. Funding
 
The banner series is the result of collaboration between three local agencies: the PSJRA, Gulf Alliance for Local Artists (GALA) and the Tourist Development Commission (TDC). GALA continues to provided a rich resource of local artists from whom to chose, who to date have graciously provided original work at an affordable rate, with rights to reproduction. The TDC provides additional funding for banners and for collateral material.
 
IV. Problem Solving
 
The banner program provided an immediate, positive and encouraging visual impact on the downtown area. The art has become a focal point for tourists, who regularly inquire if the banners are for sale. They are also an effective tool to unite our diverse community by highlighting the variety in our history, present and future.
 
V. Application To Other Communities
 
Other communities can benefit from recognizing and focusing on their unique qualities and expressing them through art. Art can be a cost-effective way to showcase local talent, diversity and can generate a sense of pride to unite communities.
 
VI. Other Exemplary Aspects
 
The banner art, with the current excitement it has generated, will be extended into other mediums and will be made available for sale to the general public through posters, note cards, regional ads, public relation initiatives, interactive media and bumper stickers/coffee mugs, etc. This broadening of the program will reach more tourists and will also offset the cost of the original art and banner fabrication. Local retailers will also benefit from their profit from the sale of collateral materials.