State program aids Bogalusa's downtown

BY MARCELLE HANEMANN

THE DAILY NEWS

Advertisement

BOGALUSA n Bogalusa is going into its fourth year as a Louisiana Main Street Community. And although the state has just put up signs designating it as such, the city's historic district has been benefiting from its participation in the program for three years, said Larry Miller, local Main Street program manager.

The program, created by the National Trust and maintained through the Office of Historic Preservation, is designed to help approved cities revitalize their historic districts. In Bogalusa, that means the 300, 400 and 500 block of Columbia Street.

During their first five years of participation, municipalities are offered guaranteed grant funding for façade restoration on buildings of at least 50 years of age that are located within the districts. The grants require a 50 percent match from the property owners, said Miller.

In three years, the Bogalusa district has already gotten 21 façade grants totaling more than $55,400, said Miller. Applications for another round of the grants will be accepted in the fall. And the funding is guaranteed for the next two years, he said.

After the five years are up, Bogalusa will become a Graduate Community, and although the funding will no longer be guaranteed, local property owners will still be able to submit applications.

Miller said the Main Street Community program has succeeded in assisting the economic development of downtown Bogalusa. The renovation of the district helps the city to retain existing businesses and to attract others to the area, he said.

"New start-up businesses are coming in all the time," said Miller. "It generally costs less rent. There's not as much out-front expense. It's a good place to get started. It's a business incubator for small businesses. It gives people an opportunity to get started."

Miller said he is currently in talks with two new prospects.

And as the revitalization continues, it is hoped that business owners will be encouraged to stay in the quaint and reborn historic heart of Bogalusa.