Economic Development

Main Street

For information about the Downtown Revitalization Project click here.

Ruston has been a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street program for over 15 years. The Main Street program offers an approach to downtown revitalization that has been successful in more than a thousand towns and cities throughout the country. The four points described below are the keys to the success of the Main Street approach:

Organization means getting everyone working toward the same goal. This group would include building a consensus and cooperation among the groups that have an important stake in the district. Their goals would include formulating a work plan for the downtown.
Promotion means selling the image and promise of Main Street to all prospects. By Marketing the district’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses, and visitors, an effective promotion strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events, and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers.
Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets – such as historic buildings and traditional downtown layout – is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere created through window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping conveys a visual message about what Main Street is and what it has to offer.
Economic Restructuring means find a new purpose for Main Street’s enterprises. By helping existing downtown businesses expand and recruiting new ones to respond to today’s market, Main Street programs help convert unused space into productive property and sharpen the competitiveness of business enterprises.

A community’s central business district (Main Street) often accounts for as mush as 30 percent of the town’s jobs and 40 percent of its tax base. But, Main Street is more than an economic asset. It is also a community’s crossroad, a place in our hearts and minds that evokes strong emotions and helps define our identity.

When Ruston first became a part of the Main Street there were over 30 empty buildings in the heart of our downtown. Funding from the Main Street program has helped Ruston to become a thriving downtown with unique shopping, great restaurants and beautifully restored buildings. Our Main Street area offers small-town charm, with flourishing pedestrian traffic, historic value saved for our children and grandchildren, and a great sense of place and feel.

The primary focus of the City of Ruston’s Department of Economic Development is creating quality jobs and investment in Ruston and Lincoln Parish. The knowledgeable staff that administers these programs is available to assist companies with expansion and relocation needs including current labor force analysis, economic and demographic data, business listings, available buildings and sites, financing, business incentives and more.