Louisiana Main Street Announces Recipients of 2026 National Main Street Accreditation
19 communities recognized for exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Louisiana Main Street are proud to announce the 19 Louisiana communities designated as Accredited Main Street America programs for 2026. These organizations met rigorous performance standards established by the National Main Street Center and are being recognized for their commitment to strengthening local economies, preserving historic character, and revitalizing downtown districts through the Main Street Approach™.
The 19 Louisiana communities are among 838 programs nationwide to receive Accredited Main Street America status, the organization's highest designation tier.
Louisiana's nationally accredited Main Street America programs for 2026 are:
Abbeville Main Street; Acadia Parish
Columbia Main Street; Caldwell Parish
Crowley Main Street; Acadia Parish
Denham Springs Main Street; Livingston Parish
Hammond Downtown Development District; Tangipahoa Parish
Main Street Homer; Claiborne Parish
Leesville Main Street; Vernon Parish
Lower Ninth Ward Main Street, New Orleans; Orleans Parish
Monroe Main Street; Ouachita Parish
Morgan City Main Street; St. Mary Parish
Natchitoches Main Street; Natchitoches Parish
New Iberia Main Street; Iberia Parish
New Roads Main Street; Pointe Coupee Parish
Opelousas Main Street; St. Landry Parish
Ruston Main Street; Lincoln Parish
Olde Towne Slidell Main Street; St. Tammany Parish
Springhill Main Street; Webster Parish
St. Francisville Main Street; West Feliciana Parish
West Monroe Main Street; Ouachita Parish
Winnsboro Main Street; Franklin Parish
"Our historic downtowns are more than gathering places, they are engines of economic development and community pride," said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. "When Louisiana Main Street districts succeed, entire communities benefit. These programs help attract investment, support local businesses, create jobs, and preserve the historic charm that makes Louisiana unlike anywhere else in the world. I commend these communities for their dedication to building stronger local economies while protecting the stories and traditions that define them."
The Louisiana Main Street program continues to have a significant impact on communities across the state, surpassing the historic milestone of $1 billion in public and private investment. Additional statewide achievements include:
Creation of 17,325 net new jobs
4,046 net new businesses
More than $461 million invested in new construction and building rehabilitation
More than 1.3 million volunteer hours contributed
"We are proud to recognize these 2026 Accredited Main Street America programs for their unwavering commitment to grassroots transformation and the extraordinary abilities of their staffs, boards of directors, and volunteers to respond to the needs of their communities," said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. "These communities demonstrate a dedication to investing in the people and places that make their downtown districts special and contribute to the collective power of the Main Street movement to build vibrant spaces and durable economies."
In 2025, Main Street America programs generated $9.4 billion in local reinvestment, welcomed 6,936 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 36,549 net new jobs, rehabilitated 10,623 historic buildings, and leveraged 1.8 million volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar a Main Street program spent on operations, $23.13 was reinvested into its downtown district.
Louisiana Main Street annually evaluates each local organization's performance in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify communities that meet rigorous national standards for community revitalization and economic development.
To qualify for Accredited status, Main Street America's highest designation tier, communities must demonstrate exceptional performance in six areas:
Community commitment to revitalization
Inclusive leadership and organizational capacity
Diversified funding and sustainable operations
Strategy-driven programming
Preservation-based economic development
Measurable impact and results
For more than 40 years, Main Street America has helped revitalize older and historic commercial districts across the country. Today, the network includes more than 1,600 communities working to build stronger places through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, the Main Street movement has generated $124.67 billion in local reinvestment, supported 188,583 net new businesses, created 852,443 net new jobs, rehabilitated 356,424 historic buildings, and inspired more than 41 million volunteer hours nationwide.
Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
For more information about Louisiana Main Street, visit the Louisiana Main Street webpage.
