GREEN COVE SPRINGS - The Village Improvement Association introduced a new sign outside their historic location. 

As a way to celebrate the past and how far the association has come, VIA President Larianne Stutts said it is meant to resemble a Victorian-style sign that would've been used back then.

"We're really sticking with what it was," Stutts said. 

The new addition comes after the building was repainted at the end of last year. Stutts said the new outside look of the location was also meant to resemble a 19th-century historical appearance.

She said adding the sign was the cherry on top to their new look. Kelly Ricardo designed it with Kelly's Signs & More and was an idea that Stutts said Ricardo approached her with. 

"She actually just designed one on paper and said, 'Hey, this would look so neat in front of your building because it's a Victorian sign,'" Stutts said. 

 Stutts said they couldn't help but oblige. Unlike the old sign, she said they were looking for something to stand out in front of the building. 

"We were just excited," Stutts said. "We thought that was just the final touch to our upgrades."

She added that the VIA obtained a grant from the city to help with their building upgrades, so the sign was also affordable. 

Stutts said the official ribbon cutting was a success, with city councilmen, the mayor, members of city hall, and community members in attendance at their reception on Aug. 6.

"It was just really awesome to have that many leaders in our community come and celebrate with us," Stutts said.