Business Stabilization Fund for French Quarter Businesses

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The Business Stabilization Fund is a pilot program that will provide financial assistance to businesses that have experienced demonstrable revenue losses because of prolonged infrastructure construction within the lower French Quarter.  The Fund will be administered by Greater New Orleans Foundation through its subsidiary, the New Orleans Community Support Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization whose purpose is to strengthen the Greater New Orleans region and which has expertise in grants management and administration, public private partnerships, and financial controls, with support and assistance provided by the City of New Orleans.

Funds disbursed serve a litany of vital public purposes:

(i) stabilizing two vibrant commercial corridors in the State’s most important and historic tourist district;

(ii) ensuring the continued flow of sales-tax revenues from businesses threatened by construction delays;

(iii) reducing the likelihood of unemployment for workers at threatened businesses; and

(iv) eliminating the urban decay and crime fostered on empty city blocks filled with shuttered storefronts.

Impacted Area

The City’s objective is to support its businesses during a period of prolonged infrastructure improvement.  Eligibility for this pilot is defined by geographic boundaries, with assistance payments available only to businesses located along the following corridors:

• 900 block of Decatur Street
• 1000 block of Decatur Street
• 1100 block of Decatur Street
• 1200 block of Decatur Street
• 1300 block of Decatur Street
• 600 block of St. Peter Street

Award Amounts

Assistance disbursed through the Business Stabilization Fund for French Quarter Businesses will be set by two (2) tiers, determined by the size of the business.

Eligible recipients will receive awards of up to:

• $2,500 for businesses with fewer than 8 employees
• $5,000 for businesses with 8 or more employees

Awards may be less depending on the number of eligible applicants and funding availability

Eligible Recipients

Recipients of the Business Stabilization Fund for French Quarter Businesses shall meet the eligibility criteria listed below:

• The recipient is a person or juridical entity (including non-profit corporations) that owns and has continuously operated a business or commercial enterprise since January 1, 2025, at an address fronting a street within the Project Boundaries
• The recipient has experienced a Revenue Decrease that is reasonably attributed to the Construction Project.
• The recipient business does not consist entirely or primarily of property ownership/management and/or the collection of rents from properties within the Project Boundaries. The purpose of the Program is to assist active, public-facing businesses, not commercial landlords.
• Only businesses with verified addresses within the identified areas will be considered.
• Businesses must be registered and in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State and possess an active 2026 City of New Orleans Occupational license
• Businesses with fewer than 8 employees
• Businesses with 8 or more employees
• Business with sales tax remittance equal to or exceeding the amount of the assistance payment sought

Ineligible Businesses

• Non-profit organizations without commercial activities that generate sales taxes for the City of New Orleans
• Corporate-owned franchises and
• Businesses owned by employees of the City of New Orleans and members or employees of the board of the French Quarter Management District or their immediate family members. “Immediate family” is defined as the subject individual’s spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters, spouses of children, and spouses of brothers and sisters. This restriction applies to entities where the employee of the City of New Orleans or their immediate family member holds an interest exceeding more than 25%.

Applicants should submit their completed proposal (including required documents) via the Foundation’s online portal.  

If you have already created a profile, simply log in with the same information and you will be able to apply to the Business Stabilization Fund.  If not, setting up a profile is a very easy process.  Creating a profile will allow you to submit and track the status of your application.

For a brief tutorial on how to use our online portal click here.