Grants Support U.S. History Projects Across Louisiana
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) recently awarded $23,000 in grants to Louisiana organizations to support programming related to U.S. history.
In partnership with the Louisiana America 250 Commission and the Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the LEH has now awarded more than $50,000 to local communities to support their America 250 programs and projects. In this round, 11 grants totaling $16,000 were awarded to support projects engaging local audiences with Louisiana’s significant contributions to the founding and development of the United States.
With support from the State of Louisiana, another $7,000 in Constitution Day Grants has been awarded in seven parishes to support Constitution Day programming that engages the public with the origins, ideals, and legacies of the U.S. Constitution.
The LEH will continue to offer Parish America 250 Program Mini Grants through October while grant funds are available. The next deadline for applications is August 7.
“America’s 250th anniversary is a chance for every community in Louisiana to shine. We’ve already seen tremendous enthusiasm from organizations across the state, and these grants are helping preserve our history while creating exciting events and experiences for families, students, and visitors. As we continue this statewide celebration, we want every parish to have the opportunity to share its history and heritage,” Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said. “I look forward to seeing even more parishes join the effort to celebrate this once-in-a-generation anniversary throughout the year.”
In service of the Louisiana America 250 Commission’s goal of supporting commemorative activities in all 64 parishes, the LEH is particularly interested in receiving proposals from the following parishes where a Parish America 250 Program Mini Grant has not yet been awarded: Assumption, Bienville, Cameron, Claiborne, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Red River, Richland, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Washington, West Carroll, and West Feliciana.
The Rapides Parish Library used the funds it was awarded earlier this year to install Bronze Braille American Flags honoring veterans and America on the nation’s semiquincentennial.
“This project, possible thanks to the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Louisiana America 250 Commission, and the Blinded Veterans Association, supports the Rapides Parish Library’s mission of providing accessible information and engagement opportunities for all community members,” said Celise Reech-Harper, director of the Rapides Parish Library. “The unveiling of these braille flags is more than the revealing of a new resource—it is a reaffirmation that knowledge, opportunity, and civic pride should be accessible to everyone at their public library.”
Constitution Day Grants supported programs this year that vary in platform and focus, including lectures on major constitutional ideas like religious liberty or the separation of powers, hands-on children’s programming designed to instill civic engagement, and documentary film screenings that incorporate guided discussions.
See the full list of Constitution Day and Parish America 250 Program Mini grant recipients below.
Constitution Day Grantees
Antenna
“Antenna’s Land and Labor Practice”
New Orleans, Orleans Parish
$500
Banners at McNeese State University
“America in Harmony: Songs, Stories, and the Living Constitution”
Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish
$1,400
The East-West Foundation
“The Champion’s Case: Muhammad Ali, Religious Liberty, and the American Constitutional Tradition — A Three-Session Public Interfaith Seminar Series”
Slidell, St. Tammany Parish
$1,400
LSU Shreveport
“Constitution Day 2026”
Shreveport, Caddo Parish
$1,400
Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum
“Celebrating Constitution Day in Northeast Louisiana”
Monroe, Ouachita Parish
$650
The NOUS Foundation
“Nous, le peuple des États-Unis (We the people)”
New Orleans, Orleans Parish
$500
The Rapides Exploratory Education House, Inc.
“Once Upon Louisiana: Stories, Rights, and the Constitution”
Alexandria, Rapides Parish
$650
University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Constitution Day Committee
“UL Lafayette Constitution Day Celebration – Lecture”
Lafayette, Lafayette Parish
$500
Parish America 250 Program Mini Grantees
Arts and Humanities Council for Avoyelles Inc.
“Musician Jourdan Thibodeaux for Avoyelles Arts and Music Festival 2026”
Marksville, Avoyelles Parish
$1,500
Bossier Parish Police Jury
“America 250 Time Capsule and Flag Plaza at South Bossier Park”
Benton, Bossier Parish
$1,500
City of DeRidder
“Fiddle Tunes of the Revolutionary War”
Deridder, Beauregard Parish
$500
City of Franklin
“City of Franklin’s America 250 Celebration”
Franklin, St. Mary Parish
$1,500
City of Lake Charles
“Red, White, Blue & You”
Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish
$1,500
Friends of Main Street
“City of New Roads 4th of July Celebrates 250 Years of America Celebration”
New Roads, Pointe Coupee Parish
$1,500
Jefferson Community Band Inc.
“250 Years of American Music”
Metairie, Jefferson Parish
$1,500
Rayne Historic Preservation Commission
“United In Service Mural Project”
Rayne, Acadia Parish
$1,500
Rayne Historical District Association
“Rendezvous Downtown presents 250 years Celebration of the United States on July 4, 2026”
Rayne, Acadia Parish
$1,000
Sabine Parish Tourism Commission
“Louisiana Saturday Night Let Freedom Ring Concert”
Many, Sabine Parish
$1,500
Winn Main Street
“Celebrating America’s 250th: Honoring the Past & Inspiring the Future In Winnfield”
Winnfield, Winn Parish
$1,500
See the first round Parish America 250 Program Mini Grant awardees