Mississippi Gulf Coast Receives Large Portion of $110 Million from State Investment

The Gazebo Gazette

JACKSON (GG) — The state of Mississippi is investing over $110 million toward economic development, infrastructure upgrades, workforce development, tourism, and conservation efforts throughout Mississippi according to Governor Tate Reeves Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

The majority of grant approvals, totaling over $97 million, will be invested into projects that will further strengthen Mississippi’s economy through site development, infrastructure improvements, and workforce training support. This massive investment will help expand infrastructure capabilities at sites across the state and better position Mississippi to secure even more record-breaking private sector investment. Funding for these projects is available through the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Delta Regional Authority (DRA), RESTORE Act, GOMESA, and Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC).

“Mississippi’s economic development results have been historic and unprecedented,” said Reeves. “We’ve secured billions in new private sector investment and created thousands of jobs across the state. The funding we announced today will go a long way toward continuing Mississippi’s economic momentum and will help create more high-paying job opportunities for Mississippians across the state.”

Through its Site Development Grant Program, which provides funding in three categories, MDA is committing $29,358,784 in site development grant funding. Created in 2021, the Select Sites program, which is invitation-only, was designed to increase the number of highly competitive industrial sites available to meet the needs of prospective companies. The Premier Sites program is designed for properties that have a minimum of 100 acres and have distinguishing site location attributes, such as being in high-demand locations and offering intermodal and/or port access. The Ready Sites program is designed for properties that have a minimum of 20 highly developable acres that are site-work ready within six months or can have utilities on site within 12 months.

Site Development Grant Program – Select Site Grants

Stennis Technology Park – Hancock County – $3,000,000 to grub, grade and construct two building pads, design and construct access roads, extend water and sewer lines and make drainage improvements.

Governor Reeves also approved $28,426,244 in RESTORE Act funding that will be used for site development, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The projects include:

Project Seaway Rail Truck (SRT) Bulkhead – Harrison County – $2,750,000 for construction of an intermodal transload site.
Kapalama Road Sewer Infrastructure – Hancock County – $1,650,000 for improvements to meet current and future sewer needs.
Highway 63/Escatawpa Gas Pipeline Installation – Jackson County – $1,650,000 for installation of a new natural gas line.
Port of Gulfport Expansion East Pier – Harrison County – $1,210,000 for engineering and design of the east pier expansion containment.
Trent Lott Airport – Jackson County – $1,100,000 for apron and taxiway improvements.
MS Cyber Center – Harrison County – $6,600,000 to support the construction of the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center.
Pearl River Community College (PRCC) Hydrographic Technicians – Hancock and Pearl River Counties – $1,925,000 to provide a career development pathway from Hancock County Career and Technical Center to PRCC for hydrographic science instruction.
Jackson County Port Authority Bulkhead Expansion – Jackson County – $4,400,000 to support a 500-foot-long renovation of outfitting bulkhead and associated dredging to support increased capacity.

Additionally, Governor Reeves approved $1,984,316 in SCRC funding that will also be used for site development, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The projects include:

Ole Miss Coastal Business Growth Accelerator – George, Harrison, Stone, Hancock, Jackson and Pearl River Counties – $312,000 to the Mississippi Small Business Development Center (MS-SBDC) for a two-year initiative to support small businesses in Stone, George, Harrison, Pearl River, Hancock, and Jackson Counties.

Governor Reeves also approved $25,712,924 in GOMESA funding that will be used for site development, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The projects include:

Center City Infrastructure Improvements – Hancock County – $4,000,000 to extend sewer and water systems to Waveland’s “City Center” district.
Working Waterfront Marina Expansion Phase II – Harrison County – $2,500,000 to the City of D’Iberville for engineering, design and partial construction of the city’s marina expansion along the Back Bay of Biloxi.
Washington Avenue and Front Beach Utility Improvements – Jackson County – $1,200,000 to the City of Ocean Springs to improve water and sewer infrastructure and to elevate the roadway between Front Beach Drive and Lafontaine.
Martin Bluff and Hickory Hills Sewer Improvements (Gautier) – Jackson County – $2,701,150 to expand the sewer system.
Poticaw Road Sewer Extension – Jackson County – $1,200,000 to the Jackson County Utility Authority for installing approximately 6,000 linear feet of infrastructure and placing a lift station at the Highway 57/Poticaw Road Intersection to Paige Bayou Road.
Sewer System Improvements Phase III (Diamondhead Water/Sewer District) – Hancock County – $1,000,000 for the rehabilitation and repair of approximately six miles of sewer main as well as the attached services located in Sewer Basin 3.
Asbestos Water Pipe Replacement (Hancock County Water/Sewer District) – Hancock County – $1,000,000 to replace five miles of 12″ and 8″ asbestos cement pipe with 12″ PVC.
Highway 603 Sewer Expansion (Kiln Utility and Fire District) – Hancock County – $2,452,575 to enhance existing sewer infrastructure by expanding the sewer service from Highway 43 to Cuevas Town Road.
Front Beach Bulkhead (Ocean Springs) – Jackson County – $1,600,000 to the City of Ocean Springs to complete design and permitting for the Front Beach Bulkhead project, with the bulkhead and living shoreline components to be the first phase of construction.
Mitigation of Hurricane Impacts on Mississippi Gulf Coast Municipal Harbors – Hancock, Harrison, Jackson Counties – $2,370,376 to Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties to map harbors and update maps over five years.
Marine Aquaculture Demonstration Center for Economic Development – Jackson County – $3,163,823 to help foster business in South Mississippi by operating aquaculture businesses in different seafood industries.
Gulfport Wastewater Treatment Plan Upgrades – Harrison County – $1,725,000 for wastewater system improvements.
MS Coastal Map Revision Project – Hancock, Harrison, Jackson Counties – $800,000 to assist with finishing the project.

Governor Reeves also approved $13,193,587 in additional grants. The projects include:

GOMESA: Riverfront Coastal River Protection (Moss Point) – Jackson County – $3,750,000 to help provide coastal protection, conservation, restoration, hurricane protection and infrastructure for coastal wetlands.
GOMESA: Storm Water Park (Moss Point) – Jackson County – $118,500 to enhance stormwater parks, mitigate flooding, and reduce non-point source (NPS) pollution into Bayou Casotte.
GOMESA: Fixed Lab Equipment (Mississippi State University) – Jackson County – $865,000 to support the purchase of fixed equipment to complete the analytical and biosafety laboratory capabilities.
GOMESA: Using Brood Stock Reefs to Enhance Oyster Production (The Nature Conservancy) – Hancock, Harrison, Jackson Counties – $1,000,000 to build a high vertical relief oyster reef on a commercially leased water bottom.
GOMESA: Dolphin & Sea Turtle Hospital and Enhancement of Rehabilitation Facilities at Institute of Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) – Harrison County – $1,000,000 to construct a permanent and enhanced dolphin and sea turtle hospital.
RESTORE: Mississippi Sound Estuary Program (MSEP) – Coastwide – $1,100,000 to inform the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).
RESTORE: Living Shoreline Technical Assistance – Coastwide – $1,100,000 to provide expertise and resources encouraging waterfront property owners to conserve and restore intertidal habitat within their riparian rights zone.
RESTORE: Addition of Interactive Exhibit – Harrison County – $1,100,000 to the Mississippi Aquarium for education and tourism.
RESTORE: Speckled Trout Enhancement Program – Harrison County – $1,100,000 to support the restoration and long-term sustainability of the Spotted Seatrout.
RESTORE: Downtown ADA Boardwalk (Bay St. Louis) – Hancock County – $1,100,000 for construction of an ADA-compliant boardwalk connecting the municipal harbor, beach access, and downtown businesses.
SCRC: Sue Ellen Recreation Center Rehabilitation (Moss Point) – Jackson County – $252,500 for the rehabilitation of the Sue Ellen Recreation Center.