City seeks applications for Main Street incentive grants

Franklin Main Street is soliciting Redevelopment Incentive Grant applications from downtown commercial building and/or business owners.
The Louisiana Main Street program is able to offer three types of competitive grants:
—A $10,000 grant for redevelopment projects totaling a minimum of $20,000
—A $2,500 grant for redevelopment projects totaling at least $5,000
—A $500 grant for redevelopment projects totaling at least $1,000.
Grants are available for interior or exterior rehabilitation, restoration of historically significant/landmark signage or the replication of historic theater marquees. Grant recipients are required to provide at minimum a 1:1 (dollar-for-dollar) monetary match.
Applicants must receive a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the Historic District Commission. The COA application must be submitted by 4 p.m. May 10, for the City of Franklin’s Historic District Commission meeting on May 24 at 6 p.m.
Applications received from Franklin Main Street building and/or business owners will compete statewide for funding with other Main Street communities. Panelists consider the economic and visual impacts the project will have on the applicant’s Main Street district.
To be eligible for Redevelopment Incentive Grant funds, a building must be located within the downtown Franklin Main Street district, be used for commercial purposes and be at least 50 years old. Furthermore, buildings that are owned by a tax-exempt entity, but have leased storefront space to an established for-profit business for at least one year can apply. Additionally, the proposed work must be approved by the Franklin Historic District Commission and the Louisiana Main Street office, while also conforming to the guidelines set forth by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
Louisiana Main Street Redevelopment Incentive grant applications must be turned into the Main Street Program Manager at 300 Iberia St. in Franklin by 5 p.m. June 9. Grant recipients will be notified of their standing on September 4. All work must begin within 30 days of signing the grant agreement. All work must be completed by April 28.
For a copy of the application, details and deadlines, contact Arlana Shields, Main Street Program Manager, at 337-828-6345 or ashields@franklin-la.com.