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Thanks to a Main Street Alabama Project Grant, LaFayette Main Street recently partnered with downtown property and business owners to rehabilitate facades, creating momentum towards further goals of private investment and other developments in the historic district.

Centered around design guidelines of both the LaFayette Historic Committee and Main Street Alabama, informational workshops were held outlining the matching grant application process. The organization expects these facade improvement grants to help draw more people to the district, as well as foster a more vibrant and sustainable small business economy.

DeAnna Hand, executive director of Main Street LaFayette, remarks, “We are thrilled to have this program aimed at revitalizing and beautifying our city! This initiative is a way to contribute to the beautification of LaFayette and instill pride in our charming town!”

In December 2023, the first two recipients of the Main Street Alabama Project Grants were announced, allowing funding for up to $25,000 for each community’s project. These funds, made available through the support of the State of Alabama, are meant to support designated communities in executing projects within their districts to stimulate positive economic growth.

Regarding results of a ten-year study involving the financial impact of investing in Main Street’s mission, President and State Coordinator Mary Helmer Wirth explains, “For every dollar of funding the State has contributed, $13.36 is returned in sales taxes…Counting public and private investments in our communities, Main Street Alabama has had a billion-dollar economic impact on the State of Alabama.”

Hand agrees with Wirth that the economic impact will have a lasting effect and says, “The spark is here, and LaFayette is open for business! We hope this is the first of many facade grant programs that we can offer our businesses and property owners.”

A nonprofit organization, Main Street Alabama stresses public-private partnerships, broad community engagement, and strategies that create jobs, spark new investment, attract visitors, and spur growth in core commercial districts. Main Street builds on the authentic history, culture, and attributes of specific places, to bring sustainable change.