Opelousas Main Street is proud to be among the 22 Louisiana communities recognized as Accredited Main Street America programs for 2025! The designation was announced in a press release from the Office of Culture & Development and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser which also stated that the accreditation is awarded to programs that meet the rigorous performance standards set by National Main Street Center and are recognized for their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.
“Historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts are the heart and soul of communities across Louisiana. They give the community its sense of place and character and provide the uniqueness that sets one community apart from another,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “In addition, historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts are great locations for small businesses and entrepreneurs. It’s an honor to be able to recognize these 22 Louisiana communities who have worked diligently to revitalize their social cohesion and economic sustainability.”
Over the last 16 years, Opelousas Main Street contributions to downtown revitalization efforts include public art installations and events, connecting downtown businesses to grants, incentives and resources and securing funding and partnerships for streetscape enhancements. More recently, Opelousas Main Street was one of six Louisiana Main Street communities selected for the US DOT Thriving Communities Grant Program, aimed at enhancing downtown transportation connectivity.
The Louisiana Main Street program has documented impact, reaching a historic investment milestone of $1 billion in public and private investment in 2022. Of this
investment, $520 million was private investments with the remaining $527 million in public investments. Other key statistics during that time include:
- Creation of 17,859 net new jobs
- 3,919 net new businesses
- More than $461 million in new construction or rehabilitation of buildings
- More than 1.3 million volunteer hours
“Main Street America is proud to recognize this year’s Accredited Main Street America programs for their commitment to building strong and vibrant communities,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. “Their tireless efforts show what’s possible when engaged leaders work together to shape places that reflect the people they serve.” In 2024, Main Street America programs generated $7.65 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,324 new businesses, facilitated the creation of 33,835 new jobs, rehabilitated 10,126 historic buildings, and logged 1.9 million volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, $21.73 was reinvested into their downtown and commercial corridor communities.
Louisiana Main Street annually evaluates each local organization’s performance, working in partnership with the National Main Street Center, to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards. These standards provide the Main Street America network with a strong foundational framework to review progress, recognize strengths, understand trends, and identify strategies that move Main Street programs forward. To quality for Accredited status—Main Street America’s top designation tier—communities must demonstrate a proven track record of achieving outcomes in alignment with the Main Street Approach and exceptional performance in six areas: broad-based community commitment to revitalization; inclusive leadership and organizational capacity; diversified funding and sustainable program operations; strategy-driven programming; preservation-based economic development; and demonstrated impact and results.
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. Today, it is a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $107.62 billion in new public and private investment, generated 175,323 net new businesses and 782,059 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 335,675 buildings, and levered over 35.3 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.
Last modified: May 19, 2025
