Community Support
In addition to our Community Involvement, LPTFA contributes to projects that enhance the overall experience of living in Lafayette for residents. The LPTFA increases its investments by developing and redeveloping its properties. Our community investments not only benefit the residents who live there, but downtown Lafayette as a whole.
The LPTFA is proud to support the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in a number of ways. We believe that showing significant support for the local university is one of the most effective and important ways that our trust can benefit the people of Lafayette. As the Authorized Bond Issuer for Ragin Cajun Facilities, Inc., the LPTFA is able to issue revenue bonds to help fund various UL Lafayette building initiatives.
The LPTFA provided a $400,000 no-interest loan to Ragin Cajun Facilities, Inc. in order to give financial support to the UL Lafayette Building Institute in building urban, green, infill homes. The project that the LPTFA has supported include the Event House, the BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home, and the COURhouse. The LPTFA places great emphasis on helping our community and is pleased to be able to support UL Lafayette in these and future endeavors.
Victory Gardens is located at the corner of Pierce and Olivier Streets in the La Place/Fightn’ville neighborhood. This community garden was a dream of one of the neighborhoods more prominent residents, Jillian Johnson. After her tragic death in the Grand Theater Shooting in 2015, the LPTFA stepped forward and allowed Townfolk to lease the property.
The lot is leased to Townfolk, a non-profit organization for $1 a year in perpetuity, on the condition that the space remains a community garden. In addition, LPTFA allows Townfolk to use its remaining vacant property for the annual Victory Festival held October. This festival raises money to maintain the garden.
The LPTFA provided an $800,000 grant to Lafayette City-Parish Government in order to purchase the old U.S. Federal Courthouse on Jefferson Street in Lafayette.
By purchasing the old Federal Courthouse building, Lafayette City-Parish Government was able to secure this historic facility and property in a prime downtown location for possible future use that could benefit the citizens of Lafayette Parish.
The LPTFA in conjunction with the Lafayette Consolidated Government with be building a neighborhood park at the corner of Olivier and Monroe Streets for the residents of La Place Neighborhood. Construction will be underway in early 2024.
