IMPACT OF
MAIN STREET
Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Louisiana Main Street (LMS), part of the
Office of Cultural Development’s Division of Historic Preservation, released “A Shared Table: A Study of
the Impacts of Louisiana Main Street,” detailing the economic impact of Louisiana’s Main Street
communities in its 34-year history. The report was commissioned by the Louisiana Main Street program
and was prepared by Donovan Rypkema of PlaceEconomics, a consulting firm in Washington, D.C.
“Louisiana’s Main Street program brings to life the stories of each of the over 40 communities and
neighborhoods that have made up the broad network over the years,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy
Nungesser. “With the application for new communities now open, we are excited to add more
communities into the current network to continue to tell the story of all of our communities that are a
part of the fabric that is Louisiana as a whole.”
Main Street began in the late 20th century during a period where many downtowns were suffering
disinvestment and neglect. The Main Street Four-Point Approach® was created by the National Trust for
Historic Preservation in an effort to revive historic downtown commercial districts. The power and value
of its four points—Organization, Economic Vitality, Design and Promotion—have proven successful in
more than 40 states and more than 2,500 communities, making Main Street a major engine of economic
development in the context of historic preservation.
Overall, Louisiana’s Main Street communities have seen:
$931 million in Total Investment
$553 million in Private Investment
$460.5 million in New Construction and Rehabilitation
9,500+ Net New Jobs
1,900+ Net New Businesses
150,000+ Volunteers since 2004
Private sector investment has generated an average of 119 direct jobs and 98 indirect jobs each year for
the last 30 years. These jobs have meant an average of $7 million in income from direct jobs and $2.4
million from indirect jobs annually. Louisiana Main Street is cost-effective economic development, with
an investment of $1,632 per net new job or $5,802 per net new business.
Main Street is a powerful program that contributes to the economic, social, and cultural health of
Louisiana, creating benefits shared with residents in the quaintest of small towns to the liveliest of big
cities,” said Kristin Sanders, Assistant Secretary of Cultural Development. “The 34 currently active Main
Street communities across Louisiana are demonstrating that through smart, strategic, and scaled
improvements, we can create vibrant and resilient local economies that celebrate local flavor and
homegrown talent.
“PlaceEconomics is one of the most highly-regarded consulting firms providing analysis of historic
preservation’s impacts in the US and abroad,” said Louisiana Main Street Director Ray Scriber. “They
have developed an excellent, easy-to-read report showing not only the economic development impact
of Louisiana Main Street to the state, but also the impact on the quality of life in communities that are a
part of the statewide network.”
“Main Street is economic development in the context of historic preservation, and it’s a strategy that
capitalizes on existing assets to make each community competitive through differentiation rather than
imitation, celebrating the local flavor and unique characters of each place,” said Lt. Governor Nungesser.
The report features case studies on five of the Louisiana Main Street communities: Homer; Ruston;
Winnsboro; Crowley; and OC Haley Boulevard in Central City New Orleans.
CARING FOR COMMUNITY
Starts in Springhill
The Springhill Main Street program supports revitalization and economic growth in the Main Street District of Downtown Springhill. Businesses in this district can find support through grants, tax credits, and events held in the district. Main Street follows the "Main Street Approach"--a strategy that combines art and science: communities first need to learn about the local economy, its primary drivers, and its regional context (the science), but they also need to convey that special sense of place through storytelling, preserving the older and historic structures that set it apart, broad and inclusive civic engagement, and marketing (the art). To support this powerful network, Louisiana Main Street has a revitalization framework—the Main Street Approach—that helps communities leverage both the art and science of downtown revitalization to create a better quality of life for all.
We do this through the 4-Points: Organization, Promotion, Design, & Economic Vitality. Each point relies on the other for success. Also, each of the 4-points are considered with every action the Main Street board takes.
