Opelousas Offers Building Improvement Grants to Boost Downtown

The Opelousas Downtown Development District is providing up to $10,000 in matching funds to help local business owners renovate their properties.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:22am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a stack of architectural blueprints, a tape measure, and a hardhat arranged on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the planning and construction process behind downtown revitalization.A conceptual still life captures the planning and preparation behind Opelousas' downtown revitalization efforts.Opelousas Today

The Opelousas Downtown Development District is offering building improvement grants of up to $10,000 to help local business owners renovate their properties. The program, known as the BIG grant, requires applications to be submitted by April 30 and functions as a matching fund, where business owners must first spend their own money on improvements before receiving reimbursement from the district. The initiative aims to help existing businesses remain operational while attracting new commercial activity to the downtown area as the city grows in 2026.

Why it matters

The building improvement grant program is part of a broader effort by the Opelousas Downtown Development District to create a stable economic environment in the city's downtown corridor. The district hopes the grants will help existing businesses reinvest in their properties and attract new businesses to the area, boosting economic activity and revitalizing the downtown.

The details

The BIG grant program was initially introduced in 2020 with a maximum funding limit of $500 per business owner. By 2026, the maximum grant amount has grown to $10,000 to better accommodate the needs of property owners bringing their buildings up to current standards. Business owners must first spend their own money on improvements before receiving reimbursement from the district. The district expects the program to result in several new business openings throughout 2026.

  • The BIG grant program was initially introduced in 2020.
  • The maximum grant amount has grown to $10,000 by 2026.
  • The deadline to apply for the building improvement grant is April 30, 2026.

The players

Opelousas Downtown Development District

The organization offering the building improvement grants to help revitalize the city's downtown area.

Lena Charles

A representative with the Opelousas Downtown Development District who explained the details of the BIG grant program.

St. Landry Economic Development Office

The local office where business owners must process their paperwork to apply for the BIG grant.

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What they’re saying

“We want the businesses that are open to be able to reinvest in their business, to stay open. And then they could get a portion of that proceed of investments back to continue to operate.”

— Lena Charles, Representative, Opelousas Downtown Development District

“Of course, it is a matching grant, so you have to spend those funds and invest those funds in your business in order for you to get them the whole yield of the 10,000 back.”

— Lena Charles, Representative, Opelousas Downtown Development District

“We've had a solid platform that we've been building for the city of Opelousas within the corridor of ODDD and that platform is now going to be paying off in 2026. We're going to be seeing some more businesses are going to be opening, which is a whole added attraction to the downtown area.”

— Lena Charles, Representative, Opelousas Downtown Development District

What’s next

Business owners interested in the BIG grant program must submit their applications by the April 30, 2026 deadline through the St. Landry Economic Development Office.

The takeaway

The building improvement grant program is a key part of the Opelousas Downtown Development District's strategy to revitalize the city's downtown area by helping existing businesses reinvest in their properties and attracting new commercial activity. The increased funding and expanded eligibility of the grants demonstrate the district's commitment to supporting local businesses and fostering economic growth in the downtown corridor.