OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) -- Carrying on the mission to bring life and energy back to downtown Opelousas, the BIG grant, building improvement grant, gives business and property owners a chance to restore and revitalize their buildings.

The BIG grant, which is headed by committee chairwoman Sarah Branton and the Opelousas Downtown Development District, was initially introduced in 2021 to give business owners incentive to renovate their buildings.

While in its first year the grant awarded business $500 for repairs, this year a business in the main street and historic district can apply for up to $10,000 in grant funds as a match to their quote for the work.

When it comes to the application process, the grant can provide the match on work including awnings, brick cleaning, window and door restoration and work to roofs. Lena Charles with the Opelousas Downtown Development District explains how the process works.

"It's not very difficult to apply, you do have to have quotes as to what the work will cost. We do have a panel that interviews, and so we're very serious about making a decision on the ones that we award the grant to. How they would put it back in commerce, and can they actually do what they want to do," Charles explained.

While the Opelousas Downtown Development District does a lot of work on infrastructure throughout the area, Charles says the funds aren't there for them to get the downtown revitalization done on their own, saying the grant being able to match project prices opens the door for a team effort alongside business owners to restore the history and boost the economy of the city.

"What we're trying to do is incentivize their ideas and their plans and help them get to the people that can give them some funds and stuff like that," said Charles.

The deadline to apply for the big grant is April 15.

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