Dozens of Gulf Coast Projects Receive $51 Million in Restoration Funds, $14 Million from U.S. Treasury.
There’s an economic boom on the Gulf Coast’s horizon and it’s bringing millions of dollars to dozens of major projects and renovations that are ready to shine.
Some of the long-awaited projects include $3.5 million for Long Beach’s harbor complex restoration, $3.19 million to Jackson County for a Vancleave Medical Center, and $4.6 million for an extension to Daniel Boulevard in Gulfport and a connector road between Highway 49 and Canal Road.
Other projects include:
• $3.6 million – Pinchers Seafood for a working waterfront in Bay St. Louis
• $3.6 million – Harrison County Development Commission for I-10 and Canal Road site
• $2.5 million – University of Southern Mississippi for Digital Multimedia Center of Excellence
• $2 million – City of Diamondhead for Commercial District Transformation Project
• $2 million – Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission for the Technology Park and site development at Stennis Airport Phase I
• $2 million – Mississippi State University Research and Technology Corporation for development of Mississippi Cyber Center
• $2 million – Jackson County Economic Development Foundation for the Sunplex Light Industrial Park improvements and Trent Lott Airport
• $2 million – Ocean Springs Redevelopment Foundation for Public Works redevelopment and relocation
• $1.93 million – Pearl River County Board of Supervisors for Pearl River County Industrial Park Infrastructure and site development
• $1.8 million – Pearl River County Board of Supervisors for the Pearl River County Technology Park Phase I, and site development
• $1.75 million – City of Moss Point for Highway 63/Escatawpa natural gas pipeline installation
• $1.6 million – George County Board of Supervisors for Regional Agriculture and Agri-Tourism accelerator project
• $1.6 million – George County Board of Supervisors for Grain Elevator/River Road rehabilitation
• $1.59 million – Jackson County Economic Development Foundation and the Biloxi Bay RV Resort for a luxury RV resort.
• $1.5 million – Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority for Live, Work, Play Pascagoula Riverfront
• $1.4 million – City of Bay St. Louis for the downtown boardwalk
• $1 million – Bay St. Louis safety complex
• $1 million – Moss Point Redevelopment Authority for downtown revitalization
• $1 million – Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum for road improvements at Model Railroad Museum project
• $1 million – Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Arts to complete Ohr-O’Keefe Museum campus
• $900,000 – Gulf Hills Resort for development of 2,000 feet of blue-way waterfront and public marina access
• $700,000 – City of Ocean Springs for Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center renovations
• $498,000 – City of Lucedale for Municipal Park Stage
• $260,000 – Stone County Economic Development Partnership for Heritage Spring Water project
• $250,000 – Plaid Properties LLC for the redevelopment of a blighted property into a Walter Anderson Museum of Art Connected District
• $200,000 – City of Moss Point to improve access from I-10 to Moss Point’s Miracle Mile
The monies are derived from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Restoration Funds, a settlement that came from the BP Oil Spill in 2010. The money must be allocated to the six lower Mississippi counties and will be largely used to support economic development and infrastructure to create eye-catching future business investments and increased opportunity for jobs in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone, and George counties.
And although state lawmakers chose to spend the money on road projects, business parks, and waterfront, the funds allocated to each of the 29 projects is not enough to fulfill the endeavors but does assist with financing.
Four Mississippi RESTORE projects will also see growth with $14 million in grants through the U.S. Department of Treasury. The projects are aimed at supporting workforce development and infrastructure while benefitting the Gulf Coast economy.
The Hancock County Fairgrounds is set to receive $5.8 million toward revitalization, the Coast Coliseum and Convention Center will garner $1.5 million to boost safety and security, the Hancock County Technology Park is slated to receive $4.9 million to support the growth of technology companies, and $1.6 million will fund a workforce development project between Pearl River Community College and the National Oceans and Applications Research Center.
