Main Street Homer receives $50,000 grant through Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s Brownfields Program

Louisiana Main Street is excited to announce that Main Street Homer has been selected for the Brownfields Planning Activities program through the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s Brownfields Program. Homer will receive $50,000 of technical assistance for redevelopment planning of vacant historic buildings located downtown. This project will catalyze private investment, ultimately returning the buildings to productive use for the community. Louisiana Main Street provided application assistance to Main Street Homer.

Ten years ago, more than half of Homer’s downtown buildings were vacant. Thanks to the work of Main Street Homer, the Town of Homer, and building owners, multiple buildings have been rehabilitated and re-occupied­­—the vacancy rate is now 31%. This project will target the remaining vacant buildings, including several that have been vacant for decades.

“Main Street Homer prides itself on making a difference one project at a time. That’s exactly what they have been able to do for the past 10 years. They are revitalizing their downtown area through economic development to preserve their historic buildings and increase economic vitality in the area to help bring back visitors who are spending money,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “This grant will only help push their incredible work into the next ten years.”

This project will provide a vision and plan for reuse, with deliverables including market data, financial pro-formas, best tenant “fit” recommendations, implementation strategies, and more. The planning documents will be used to assist building owners and attract investors and financing to downtown Homer.

“By encouraging and utilizing input from our citizens, latest market and demographic trends, along with customized construction and operating pro-formas provided by an expert in the field, we have new hope in our ability to market our historic, vacant buildings and place them back into service in our community,” said Jimmy Hand, Main Street Homer board president. “Thank you to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for providing the opportunity and funding for this downtown development project to help us continue to revitalize Homer through economic development, historic and cultural preservations, and advancement of the arts.”

This project continues a strong partnership between Louisiana Main Street and the LDEQ Brownfields Program. The Brownfields Planning Activities program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information on the Louisiana’s Main Street program visit the Louisiana Main Street webpage.