Louisiana Main Street has awarded more than $440,000 in technical assistance grants to 12 communities statewide, including funding for projects in Minden and Homer aimed at strengthening their downtown districts.
Minden Main Street will receive $30,000 to develop a downtown strategies action plan, while Main Street Homer was awarded $44,000 for landscaping improvements at the GBT Commons Park gateway.
The grants are part of a $450,000 appropriation by the Louisiana Legislature for fiscal year 2025-2026. The program, administered by the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, supports projects tied to economic vitality, design, promotion, and organizational development in historic downtowns.
“Louisiana’s Main Street communities are the heartbeat of our towns and cities,” said Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser in a statement. “By awarding a second round of these Technical Assistance Grants, we are helping communities strengthen their historic downtowns, support local businesses, and create places that both residents and visitors want to experience.”
This round of funding follows an earlier distribution in July. Together, the two rounds mark the first time in more than a decade that Louisiana Main Street has been able to provide technical assistance grants at this scale.
Since its inception, Louisiana Main Street has documented more than $1 billion in combined public and private investment in participating communities, along with nearly 18,000 new jobs and 3,900 new businesses.
More information on the program is available through the Louisiana Main Street webpage.