What can the Louisiana Main Street Program Do For My Downtown?

Through the application of our staff's professional skills and experiences, Louisiana Main Street strives to help community-directed efforts that will build upon the economic and cultural assets of the district.

Louisiana Main Street staff is concerned with planning and ordinance review, manager and volunteer training and development, economic development (retail, commercial, and specialty sectors), landscape planning, commercial rehab, building design, real estate development, tourism and marketing.

Our view of commercial revitalization is a process of systemic change and restructuring of the community's resources through the use of the Four Point Approach™ as defined by the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation while maintaining the guidelines of historic preservation as outlined by Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.

How Can My Community Become A Main Street?

First your community must establish a historic district, pass an ordinance, appoint a commission and attend training, hold regular commission meetings, and apply for certification (CLG designation) through the State Main Street Office.

Appoint an organization committee, build a volunteer base, form partnerships with stakeholders in downtown, and educate your community about the benefits of downtown revitalization. Form a downtown revitalization board and four committees, attend trainings, appoint or hire a project manager, and establish an adequate budget for your program.

Attend an Louisiana Main Street Application Workshop and submit an application to the Louisiana Main Street office or official designation and funding.

Contact the Main Street State Coordinator, Phil Boggan for more information at (225) 342-8160 or mainstreet@crt.state.la.us.