Business View Civil & Municipal - May 2023

93 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 offering food trucks, vendors, and entertainment for residents to enjoy.” In addition, the city hosts various waterfront events to encourage residents to come together and create a sense of community. Through fostering partnerships with downtown businesses and organizations like Main Street, the city of Clermont is working to maintain its small-town charm and sense of community, even as it continues to grow and evolve. City Manager Brian Bulthuis discusses ongoing efforts: “Several years ago, the city started redoing the roads, infrastructure, water, and sewer in the downtown as part of our Streetscape Project.” He points out that while people notice the roadwork, they may not know the water and sewer updates happening beneath. Clermont’s Streetscape project is in the final portion of a three-phase project to revitalize its town center, including street and utility improvements. Bulthuis explains. “Our goal is to make downtown very walkable so people can come out and enjoy the beautiful waterfront.” The project is expected to be completed later this summer, further enhancing the area’s appeal with its eclectic shops and chef-driven restaurants. Bulthuis highlights the importance of supporting local businesses and making the downtown area a destination.“The heart of a community is your downtown,” he said.“We have some local business owners who have invested, and the city wants to support these owners.” The city is working on a docking facility on Lake Minneola to replace the damaged and aging 8th Street Pier. This project includes a new fishing pier with daytime boat docks that will allow visitors on the lake easier access to the downtown area. It will also enhance an existing green space by adding restrooms, outdoor amphitheater seating and picnic areas along Florida’s Coast-to-Coast Trail. Clermont is the middle of the 250-mile trail that links St. Petersburg to Titusville and is the perfect place CLERMONT , FLOR IDA