#hammondamerica
The Downtown Development District
Millage Renewal
On April 24th, 2021, Hammond residents overwhelmingly supported renewing the 14.16 mills tax for Hammond’s Downtown Development District. This renewed millage is levied only on properties within the Downtown Development District and is subject to Homestead Exemption.
“They have done a really great job of marketing downtown and supporting local businesses in their efforts to revitalize our downtown.”
— Pete Panepinto, Mayor of Hammond
DDD Funding
An estimated $319,000 is collected annually from the millage tax. This money is the Downtown Development District’s primary source of funding. The millage is for constructing, renovating, acquiring, operating or maintaining facilities in the DDD’s redevelopment plan. It also funds operating expenses of the District, including funding neighborhood grants for residential areas and providing matching funds for inducement of development within the District.
History of the DDD
In 1986 the Downtown Development District became one of the first Main Streets in the state. In 1987, the Hammond community voted yes to the DDD receiving a millage of property taxes to fund commerce and development in the district.
Community Focused
The Downtown Development District seeks to unite and rejuvenate the Hammond area to benefit residents, visitors, and the local economy. Since 1984, the DDD has reduced the number of vacant buildings in the District by over 87%. And when the district needed the DDD most, they continued to deliver with education on Small Business Association loans and secured multiple National Main Street grants during the COVID-19 pandemic. One grant was able to provide sanitation supplies to most of downtown’s local businesses.
The DDD has worked hard to make Downtown Hammond a place locals want to visit, shop, and connect with friends. As a result of the DDD’s hard work and dedication to the community, Downtown Hammond was named in the top 10 Greatest American Main Streets in 2019.
Keeping Hammond
Happening
The DDD has dedicated itself to improving and developing our downtown.
- Secured grants for the sidewalks on Cate Street
- Parking throughout downtown Hammond
- Secured funds to save the Columbia theater from demolition
- Provides grants for improving facades in Downtown
- Hosts community engagement events like Hot August Night
- Organizes and runs the Hammond Farmers Market
- Created and installed bike racks featuring local artist’s work
- Provides social media marketing plans for local small businesses
- Attracts new businesses through the Revolving Loan Program
Future Projects
The DDD looks for the best way to utilize our Hammond resources while building toward the future and planning for community engagement and economic development. Some future projects include:
- Constructing an urban park in downtown
- Building gateway and wayfinding signage, complete streets, and safe intersections for pedestrians
- Promote the construction of a boutique hotel on the historic Oaks Hotel location
- Attract small businesses such as a grocery store
- Creating a bike path to connect Southeastern Louisiana University to Downtown and promote a relationship between the school and Downtown Hammond
- Building a pavilion for community use
- Promoting third spaces for the community to connect
- Encouraging local art and promoting artists
- Building a community garden
- Construct the Tangipahoa Rail Trail
Why Is The
Millage Important?
The millage provides the DDD with funding to make progress in Hammond and promote business development and diversity. The DDD seeks to preserve the Hammond we know and love while promoting community involvement and equipping our city for growth and success.
Community Events
Local Business Funding
Property Development
Hear Why Leaders In Our Community support the ddd
Hear More Community Voices
Hammond Made Its Voice Heard
On April 24th, 2021, an incredible 90% of voters said YES to funding the DDD Millage Renewal. The DDD is funded for years to come, and the future is looking bright.
#DDDMillageRenewal