Public Meeting for Three New Cultural Districts in Lafayette

Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux’s CREATE Initiative is partnering with the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor’s Office of Cultural Development to host a public meeting for the residents of Lafayette’s newly named Cultural Districts – Greater Freetown-Port Rico, University Gateway and the Oil Center. The intent of the meeting is to explain the benefits of a Cultural District to the new districts’ residents, which were approved by the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism earlier this summer. The event is open to residents of the neighborhoods and the general public, and is scheduled for this Thursday, September 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Rosa Parks Transportation Center, 101 Jefferson Street.

State representatives from the Office of Cultural Development, Cultural Districts and Historic Preservation, Kelsea McCrary and Alison Saunders will be in attendance to share information and answer questions about the program. In addition to information provided by state and local government, neighbors and businesses will also have the opportunity to participate in a neighborhood meet-up

State historic tax credits for revitalization projects and local sales tax exemptions for original artwork sold within districts’ boundaries now apply for the newly designated Cultural Districts. By incentivizing cultural activity in these ways, Cultural Districts throughout the state benefit from increased commerce, improved occupancy, a greater sense of community identity, and more artistic and cultural production.

“Two years ago we only had one Cultural District within the City of Lafayette and now we have several. This designation not only builds community and gets neighbors working together, but it empowers them to attract investment and cultural clustering through the state historic tax credits and local art sales. We look forward to supporting these efforts in this meeting of information and opportunity for neighborhood building,” said Kate Durio, LCG Chief Cultural Officer, CREATE Lafayette.

These three cultural districts join McComb-Veazey, Downtown Lafayette, Carencro and Scott as the newest Cultural Districts in the parish.

For more information on the Cultural District Program, visit http://www.lafayettela.gov/Pages/Cultural-Districts.aspx.