For Immediate Release
August 19, 2022
Building Improvement Grants Awarded to Six Businesses in Opelousas
(Opelousas, LA) –Six business owners will share in $20-thousand dollars in grant funding for the 2022 Building Improvement Grant (BIG) cycle. Funded by the Opelousas Downtown Development District, the grants will assist business and property owners with repairs and improvements to their buildings. Some of the work for this year’s projects include façade maintenance and repairs related to roof and window repair, installing gutters, floor restoration, interior work, and painting.
The Building Improvement Grants is a collaborative effort by the City of Opelousas, Opelousas Downtown Development District (ODDD) and Opelousas Main Street, Inc. “On behalf of the City of Opelousas, we are thankful to the Opelousas Downtown Development District for support with this valuable program and their commitment to improving the downtown district,” said Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor. “These enhancement projects will bring positive changes to small businesses and our community.”
Launched in 2021, the program was established to support and encourage business and property owners to reinvest in their buildings. The grant provides matching funds to help restore or beautify storefronts in the Opelousas Downtown Development District corridor. Both the Opelousas Main Street district and Historic District are included in the corridor. The first grant cycle, which allocated $10,000 in grant funding to five local businesses, and leveraged over $100,000 of private investment. Expanding on the success of the first grant cycle, $20-thousand dollars in funding was available for the second round of funding with a maximum grant allowance of $5,000 per applicant. Grant recipients were selected from applications submitted in July.
“We are excited to work with our downtown businesses to distribute grant funds that have a positive impact on Opelousas,” said Lena Charles, Chairman of the Downtown District. “Improving buildings on our downtown corridors will help with revitalization efforts for Opelousas.”
The Opelousas Downtown Development District also collaborated with city staff to help administer the program. “There’s a considerable need for façade improvement funding so this grant is really important in providing some relief to property and business owners,” said Melanie LeBouef, Opelousas Main Street Manager.
The 2022-2023 BIG Grant Awardees include:
Benny’s Supermarket, 806 South Union
Java Square, 103 West Landry St.
Back in Time, 123 West Landry St.
Lagniappe Vape/ (Former Shute’s Drug Store), 104 East Landry St.
Law Office of Abbey Williams/ Former Marino Store, 634 South Union
Harris & Harris Law Firm, 221 North Main St.
Last modified: August 19, 2022