Louisiana Main Street Program
Rivertown: A Louisiana Main Street Program
Louisiana Office of Cultural Development
Division of Historic Preservation
Kenner's historic Rivertown district has been officially named a Main Street community by state officials, a designation that opens up federal, state and local resources.
A multi-faceted plan has been followed for some time to revitalize Rivertown and achieve this designation that will help this area enormously. This qualifies Rivertown for additional tax incentives and programs, but perhaps more importantly, Kenner is now part of a community of Main Street leaders throughout Louisiana and can utilize these resources.
Kenner is one of only 36 Main Street communities in Louisiana, which includes five in New Orleans. It is the only Main Street program in Jefferson Parish.
The Main Street program was started in Louisiana under the National Trust for Historic Preservation's model and sponsorship as a way to revitalize downtown districts throughout the state that had been neglected as the locals moved away from inner cities to suburban areas. That trend is reversing and the Main Street program aims to help with the renewal.
All Main Street communities create four committees for both volunteers and businesses in the district: economic restructuring, design, promotion and organization. Help is available not only from other Main Street communities but from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Consulting firms perform community assessments to determine options for district revitalization.