Steve Bandy /Crowley Post-Signal
Two Acadia Parish municipalities are one step closer to having their own cultural districts.
Through resolution, the Acadia Parish Police Jury went on record Tuesday in support of the applications of Rayne and Church Point for the creation of cultural districts.
Laurie Suire, president and CEO of OneAcadia, who is spearheading the Creative Placemaking initiative in the parish, explained that the police jury’s blessing was necessary because parts of both proposed districts extend beyond the respective municipal boundaries.
Only the city of Crowley has a state-recognized cultural district in Acadia Parish.
The governing authorities of the two municipalities have already approved the creation of the districts. Now all that remains is for the application to be approved on the state level.
Act 298 of the 2007 Regular Session authorizes local governing authorities to create cultural districts as a mechanism for community revitalization through the creation of hubs of cultural activity.
Criteria for the districts is determined by the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Office of Cultural Development.
Within the boundaries of theses state-certified districts, several tax incentives may be available, including:
— A sales tax exemption on the sale of certain original works of art;
— Individual income tax credits for eligible expenses incurred during the rehabilitation of certain owner-occupied residential or owner-occupied mixed-use structures; and
— Income and corporate franchise tax credits for eligible expenses incurred during the rehabilitation of certain historic structures.