Louisiana Main Street

08/28/2026

We traveled to NewIberia Main Street for updates about the Master Study - Phase 2! It celebrates the many completed projects from Phase 1 and provides concepts for future projects, with a focus on downtown and placemaking.

We are grateful to the Louisiana Legislature for supporting this Technical Support Service via a 2025 appropriation to Louisiana Main Street.
Louisiana Office of Cultural Development City of New Iberia Acadiana Legislative Delegation Beau Beaullieu, District 48 State Representative Blake Miguez

08/27/2026

Strong small and micro businesses are essential for vibrant downtowns. We're thrilled about the upcoming launch of Smart Start DeRidder, which will support business owners and entrepreneurs!

👉 If you missed our news release on what SmartStart is all about, here it is:

SmartStart Community Louisiana Main Street

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬

𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘋𝘦𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵

DERIDDER — AUGUST 11, 2026 — A new resource will soon be available to local micro and small business owners.

The City of DeRidder - City Hall and DeRidder Main Street, in partnership with Louisiana Main Street, are proud to announce the upcoming launch of SmartStart DeRidder, a new online resource designed to make starting and growing a business easier in our community.

Starting or growing a business can be overwhelming. Many entrepreneurs may not know where to begin, what steps to take next or which organizations can help. SmartStart DeRidder will provide one clear starting point by combining practical business education with connections to trusted local resources — all in one place.

The platform will also weave applicable state and local requirements, including permitting and licensing information, into the business journey, helping entrepreneurs better understand the steps and requirements that may apply to their particular type of business.

Whether someone is exploring a business idea, launching a side hustle, opening a storefront or growing an existing business, SmartStart DeRidder is designed to help guide entrepreneurs through each stage of the journey.

Through the SmartStart DeRidder Navigator, entrepreneurs will be able to:

* 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴.
* 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.
* 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.
* 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.
* 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺.
* 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴.

The initiative will also help strengthen the local business support network by connecting entrepreneurs with organizations such as small business development centers, local lenders, mentors and other partners at the appropriate point in their business journey.

SmartStart DeRidder reflects the City of DeRidder’s commitment to supporting local entrepreneurship, strengthening existing small businesses, and creating new opportunities for economic growth.

*** 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧@𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫.𝐨𝐫𝐠.

About SmartStart Community:
SmartStart is a community-based entrepreneurship platform that helps aspiring and existing small business owners navigate the business journey with confidence. By combining practical business education, milestone-based learning and connections to trusted local resource providers, SmartStart creates a simple front door to entrepreneurship while helping communities strengthen their local business pipeline.

For more information, contact Elona Weston, DeRidder Main Street, at 337-463-8148.

More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx33rEZmiWo
https://www.smartstartnavigator.com/about
https://www.smartstartnavigator.com/workwithsmartstart

08/27/2026

Destination Downtown is a regional Main Street conference open to anyone interested in downtown revitalization! Online registration closes September 3: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/em388ge/lp/9d6c46af-ccb8-4004-870d-085f403752cf
Louisiana Office of Cultural Development Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Visit Baton Rouge Downtown Development District Main Street Alabama Main Street Arkansas Mississippi Main Street Association

08/12/2026

Downtowns and neighborhoods across North Louisiana are sitting on untapped potential — vacant buildings, empty lots, and no roadmap to bring them back to life.

Join us for a free public lecture on Incremental Development, taught by Tiffany Elder, exploring how small, locally-driven projects can rebuild local ownership and revitalize communities — one step at a time.

🗓️ Tuesday, Sept 29 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM
📍 Ruston Civic Center, 401 N Trenton Street, Ruston, LA 71270
💵 Free & open to the public
👉 RSVP link
https://www.incrementaldevelopment.org/calendar/northlousiana-lecture2026

Tiffany Elder is an Incremental Development Alliance Faculty member, Durham-based licensed general contractor, Realtor, and real estate investor/developer, and Owner of Paradigm Construction and Paradigm Properties. A former software engineer with an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler, she now renovates historic structures and builds new spaces across the Raleigh-Durham area.

Hosted by Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Brownfields Program and Louisiana Main Street, in partnership with the City of Ruston, Downtown Ruston, Experience Ruston, and Visit Webster Parish.


Minden Main Street District Springhill Main Street Main Street Homer Winn Main Street-Winnfield, La Natchitoches Main Street Program Main Street Columbia Town of Columbia Winnsboro Main Street Develop Franklin Downtown Monroe Main Street Downtown West Monroe West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce Grow NELA Louisiana Municipal Association Louisiana Brownfields Association Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation

08/07/2026

We hosted expert-led trainings in three Main Street communities this week: Morgan City Main Street, St. Martinville Main Street Association, and Olde Towne Slidell Main Street! Donna Harris of Heritage Consulting Inc. provided board training and fundraising training for each Main Street.
Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana Louisiana Office of Cultural Development Acadiana Legislative Delegation City of Slidell, Louisiana City of St. Martinville Stephanie Berault - State Representative, District 76 Bob Owen Louisiana State Senate, District 1 Beryl Amedee - State Representative

08/05/2026

Louisiana Main Street got to present a session at the Louisiana Municipal Association conference in Monroe to a packed room! Mayor Staci Mitchell of West Monroe did the session before ours with a great talk on how community development equals economic development. Then we got a shoutout from Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser at the convention luncheon! Downtown West Monroe Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana Louisiana Municipal Association

07/28/2026

CONGRATS to Danielle Fontenette on your retirement -- celebrating thirty years as Main Street director for St. Martinville Main Street Association and City of St. Martinville! Thank you for your outstanding work and dedication to Main Street.

07/27/2026

Congrats to DBM Computers in Winnfield on receiving a Backing Small Businesses grant!
Winn Main Street-Winnfield, La City of Winnfield Winn Parish Journal Representative Jack McFarland Senator W. Jay Luneau

In partnership with American Express, we are so excited to congratulate 25 small business owners across the country that have been awarded $30,000 Enhancement Grants through the Backing Small Businesses grant program!

The Backing Small Businesses grant program, supported by American Express, invests in locally significant small businesses with community reach. Through this program, 400 recipients were selected in 2025 to each receive a $10,000 grant to fund projects that promote long-term growth and increase local impact. Additionally, in May 2025, a special round of the program provided 100 grants of $10,000 each to meet the urgent and growing needs of small businesses recovering from natural disasters. Recipients from both rounds were eligible to apply for the Enhancement Grants.

Since launching in 2021, the program has provided over $15.52 million in grants to 1,755 small business owners across the country.

Meet the recipients here: https://bit.ly/4gJZ6Wt

07/17/2026

Many thanks to Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana for his ongoing strong leadership and support of Louisiana Main Street, the Louisiana Main Street Managers Association, and all of the local Main Street districts, local Main Street directors, and local Main Street volunteers across Louisiana! Main Street America

It was such a pleasure to meet yesteday with the board of the Louisiana Main Street program to discuss all of the great work they are doing across the state! This awesome program aims to promote, support and revitalize downtown commercial districts across our state.

Thank you so much to Ray Scriber, Amanda Lanata, Charlene Beckett, Jane Braud, Ed Verdin, Valarie Robinson, Chris Daemmrich, and the entire team from Louisiana Main Street and all the Main Street programs across the state! Your efforts are so crucial in continuing to make Louisiana a prosperous and community-driven place to be.

Louisiana Main Street | Louisiana Office of Cultural Development | Main Street America

07/05/2026

Want to learn about history as we prepare to celebrate America's 250th anniversary? Visit Main Street communities across Louisiana to see the sites that shaped our nation's history!

Explore an interactive map of historical moments in Main Streets across the US: https://mainstreet.org/our-network/main-street-250
Louisiana Office of Cultural Development Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana Main Street America