The Louisiana Main Street Program was one of nine projects nationwide to receive grant funding through the Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program (HRSP). The National Park Service, which oversees the HRSP grants, awarded Louisiana Main Street $662,000 for the rehabilitation and revitalization of commercial buildings around the state. Through the HRSP, a total of $4.8 million was awarded to the nine projects around the country.
“Being selected for this National Park Service grant means we will be able to increase our assistance in the preserving and restoring of historical aspects of our small towns and historic districts to bring them back to life, attracting locals and visitors alike,” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “The historic downtowns and commercial districts are the heart of many communities across Louisiana. They give each community a sense of place and character, providing the uniqueness that sets them apart from each other.”
The awarding of these grants marked the National Park Service’s first year of funding through the Historic Revitalization Subgrant Progam. Funding for this competitive program is provided by the 2018 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) which comes from revenue from Federal oil leases on the Outer Continental Shelf, providing assistance for a broad range of preservation projects without expending tax dollars. The National Park Service plans a second round of grants, totaling up to $5 million, to be available in winter 2020.
“The Louisiana Main Street Program will utilize this funding to award rehabilitation grants to property owners in Louisiana Main Street districts. We are excited to have secured this grant funding through the National Park Service and will begin working on a way for property owners to apply to the Office of Cultural Development,” said Louisiana Main Street Director Ray Scriber.
State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits were eligible to apply for funding to support a subgrant program to fund multiple preservation projects in their rural jurisdictions. A total of 110 applications were received.