Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA) is launching a new Façade Improvement Grant Program to support the preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings throughout Natchitoches Parish.
The competitive program will provide grants of up to $5,000 for eligible exterior improvements to qualifying historic properties. Awards require a minimum 1:1 match, which may include cash, eligible non-federal funding, donated materials or professional services, and documented volunteer labor.
“Our historic buildings are such an important part of what makes the communities throughout Natchitoches Parish distinctive and maintaining them takes a real investment from property owners,” said Rebecca Blankenbaker, Executive Director of Cane River National Heritage Area. “Through this program, we have an opportunity to partner directly with property owners and organizations who are doing the work to preserve these places. Even relatively small projects can make a meaningful difference in protecting a historic building and strengthening the character of the community around it.”
Eligible properties must be located within Natchitoches Parish and be individually listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, located within a National Register Historic District or the Heritage Area boundaries, and identified as a contributing resource.
Eligible property types include commercial, rental, mixed-use, and other income-producing historic properties, as well as qualifying properties owned or operated by nonprofit organizations, religious institutions, and governmental entities. Vacant historic commercial or income-producing properties may also qualify when there is an intended commercial, rental, mixed-use, or other income-producing use. Owner-occupied private residences are not eligible during this grant cycle.
Eligible projects may include exterior painting and surface preparation; historic masonry repair; restoration of historic windows, doors, shutters, siding, porches, galleries, and architectural details; historic storefront rehabilitation; and historically appropriate awnings and exterior lighting.
“This program is really about taking care of the historic materials and features that give these buildings their character,” said Logan Schlatre, Director of Programs for Cane River National Heritage Area. “We also recognize that property owners may not know whether their building is eligible or exactly what type of work meets historic preservation standards. The pre-application process gives us an opportunity to work with applicants early, answer those questions, and help identify projects that are a good fit for the program.”
The Façade Improvement Grant Program is specifically intended for historic preservation and rehabilitation and is not a general property improvement program. Roofing, signage, landscaping, parking lots and driveways, interior renovations, accessibility improvements, HVAC and plumbing systems, new construction, and other general property improvements are not eligible.
Two-Step Application Process
CRNHA will use a two-step application process beginning with a Letter of Intent / Pre-Application period from October 12 through November 9, 2026.
The pre-application will allow CRNHA staff to review the property and proposed project for basic eligibility before an applicant completes the full grant application. Applicants whose properties and projects appear eligible will be invited to submit a full application.
Applicants who do not submit a Letter of Intent / Pre-Application by November 9, 2026, will not be eligible to submit a full application during this grant cycle.
Full applications are due January 11, 2027, with grant awards anticipated to be announced February 1, 2027. All funded projects and required closeout documentation must be completed by October 4, 2027.
Projects selected for funding will be required to complete applicable Section 106 historic preservation review, including consultation with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), as well as Historic District Commission (HDC) review when applicable. CRNHA will assist successful applicants through the historic preservation review process.
Applicants should not begin work or purchase project materials in anticipation of receiving a grant. A grant award does not constitute authorization to begin work, and successful applicants must receive written authorization from CRNHA before beginning the approved project.
Property owners who are unsure whether their building meets the historic eligibility requirements are encouraged to submit a pre-application. CRNHA staff can assist with determining a property’s historic status during the review process.
Complete program guidelines and the Letter of Intent / Pre-Application are available at canerivernha.org/2026-2027-
For questions about the Façade Improvement Grant Program, contact Logan Schlatre, Director of Programs, at LSchlatre@CaneRiverNHA.org.
About the Heritage Area: Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. (CRNHA) is a non-profit organization that preserves, promotes, and presents the nationally significant heritage of the Cane River region. Located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, CRNHA works with regional partners to provide high-quality educational, cultural, and recreational experiences in the area’s unique historical settings through a linked system of attractions and historic districts within the Cane River National Heritage Area.