The New Orleans Jazz Museum will receive $900,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration for improvements to its French Quarter site. An additional $225,000 in local funds will bring the total grant value to $1.1 million. The grant is part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in March 2021 that was intended to speed up the country’s recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Located in the former U.S. Mint in New Orleans, the Jazz Museum plans to upgrade its facility by building a first-floor cafe and an outdoor stage along with other improvements. The Louisiana Museum Foundation estimates the investment will support a total of 55 new and retained jobs, and could generate as much as $33 million in private investments by attracting new visitors to the city.

Improvements to the Jazz Museum will receive funding from the ARP’s Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program, designed to accelerate the recovery of communities whose economies rely heavily on those sectors.

“The travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sector is a critical economic driver for many communities and the Economic Development Administration is pleased to support community-led development strategies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will strengthen New Orleans’ tourism sector, providing economic recovery and a more resilient tourism industry for the region.”

Governor John Bel Edwards said, “New Orleans is widely celebrated and recognized as the birthplace of jazz, and investing ARP funds into this entertainment mecca will help ensure that Louisiana’s tourism and visitor sector will continue to grow and thrive. These grants will have immediate and long-term economic, cultural and educational benefits for our state.”

For more information about the New Orleans Jazz Museum, visit here.