Opelousas, LA: The Opelousas Downtown Development District (ODDD), in partnership with Opelousas Main Street, is working to help businesses in the Historic Downtown District receive funds to revitalize and revive historic buildings.
According to a press release, the Opelousas Downtown Development District is proud to announce an investment of over $218,000 in the Building Improvement Grant Program. Toby's Downtown Restaurant and Grill is one local business that plans to apply for the grant.
Toby's Lounge and Reception Center once stood as the cornerstone of Opelousas. The fabric covered Opelousas in its wealthy Creole and Cajun traditions. Unfortunately, the historic landmark located on Hwy 182 stood tall for 50 years before perishing in a tragic fire in 2022.
"When my place burnt, I had no place to go; either get out of business or move," said the owner, Wayne Doucet.
Since the fire, they have relocated to a downtown building that once housed the Bordelon Chevrolet car dealership. That building also needed repairs, so the restaurant applied for the BIG grant and received it in 2023.
"It felt good to receive the grant because we couldn't get the building painted as quickly without it. The grant helped a lot, and they are trying to build up Downtown," said Hily Lalonde, the manager.
The building still needs work today, so the business will apply for the Building Improvement Grant (BIG) Program again this year. Lalonde says that in addition to repairs, it needs a new sign.
"I just want that sign down and put another one up so people know that this is Toby's," said Lalonde.
"The goal behind administering the Build Improvement Grant is to help business and property owners restore and rehab their properties by providing assistance. When that's able to be done, it helps the city because better buildings attract more tenants and developers to invest in those buildings, and it also helps to beautify the city," said Melanie LeBoeuf, Director of Opelousas Main Street.
The grant also attracts the potential for a city to grow economically.
"The grant also helps the city with branding efforts. We are historic Opelousas, so still having these buildings and preserving them helps the city with that branding. As preservationists, historic development leads to economic growth," said LeBoeuf.
The deadline for local businesses to apply for the BIG grant is April 15th.
Related Story:
Firefighters battling blaze at Toby's Lounge and Reception Center in Opelousas
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