MMSA Hosts Legislative Tours
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Legislative Tour in Columbia, Miss.
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The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) recently hosted consecutive legislative tours in Main Street communities in the state's four congressional districts. Every state legislator was invited to attend the district tour of their choice with each district showcasing stops in three Main Street communities.
The District One Tour featured tours in Senatobia, Water Valley, and New Albany. The District Two Tour featured stops in Vicksburg, Greenville, and Greenwood. The District Three Tour featured stops in Philadelphia, Louisville, and Starkville. And, the District Four Tour featured stops in Ocean Springs, Columbia, and Hattiesburg.
Each tour was designed to show the success of local Main Street efforts, including stopping by successful small businesses in the downtown district, visiting renovated buildings that have taken advantage of façade grants, historic tax credits, or other financial incentives, and meeting some of the dynamic Main Street directors and local volunteers who make things happen in their communities. Read more.
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By Thomas Gregory, MMSA Executive Director
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The holiday season is in full swing on Mississippi’s Main Streets, and our downtowns are abuzz with people shopping, visiting Santa Claus, and spending time with family.
Just a few weeks ago, the Mississippi Main Street Association hosted a series of Main Street tours for our state legislators. We are thankful to the state Senators and Representatives who joined us in the 12 Main Street communities that we showcased this year. We hope that tour participants were able to see the value of the public and private investment being made in the communities that we serve.
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Each year, MMSA partners with Main Street America and American Express to celebrate Small Business Saturday the weekend after Thanksgiving. Shop Small Weekend is a great time to highlight the importance of shopping locally during the holidays. We know that every dollar spent in a locally owned store circulates in the community three times more than a dollar spent at a national chain. As you consider how to spend your holiday dollars this season, please consider shopping local first and supporting your neighbors and your community in the process.
Finally, we know that everyone gets a lot of requests for donations on Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving when we promote end-of-year non-profit financial support. If you’ve got room in your charitable budget to support Mississippi’s downtowns, we sure would appreciate a contribution to our Giving Tuesday fundraiser on our Facebook page. Every dollar donated through our Facebook fundraiser will be used to provide resources and services to our Main Street communities.
The work we do to support our Main Street communities is more important today than it has ever been. We hope that you and yours have a happy holiday season!
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This #GivingTuesday, consider making a gift to Mississippi's downtowns with a donation to the Mississippi Main Street Association! Contributions will help MMSA provide resources and support to Mississippi's Main Street communities.
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MMSA to Conduct Downtown Roadmap for Indianola
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On Dec. 5-7, the Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) will conduct a Downtown Roadmap for Indianola Chamber Main Street in Indianola, Miss. This program is supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
The purpose of the Downtown Roadmap is to provide Indianola Chamber Main Street with an updated strategic framework or "roadmap" with prioritized recommendations and specific implementation tactics for the next three to five years as the organization continues to guide the downtown revitalization activities for the city of Indianola.
“What Mississippi Main Street is bringing to us is invaluable,” said KC Maxey, director of the Indianola Chamber Main Street. “Our goal for this process is to bring a diversity of ideas from all parts of the city to our program.” Read more.
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MMSA Receives two Awards for Planning Work |
The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) has been recognized for its planning work with two awards presented by the Mississippi Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Mississippi).
APA Mississippi’s Chapter Awards recognize the best in planning in Mississippi. At its recent annual conference in Gulf Shores, Ala., APA Mississippi presented MMSA with Best Small Area Plan for the Itawamba Roadmap in Itawamba County and Best Public Outreach Project for Work Plan Workshops conducted in all 48 Designated Main Street communities.
The initial 23 Work Plan Workshops were held in communities in the Hills region and were funded by the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area. The remaining 25 Work Plan Workshops were held in communities in the Delta, Capital-River, Pine Belt, and Gulf Coast regions of Mississippi and were funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation with additional support from the Mississippi Development Authority. Read more.
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Check out our ad promoting Open House events in Mississippi Magazine's UnWrapped Gift Guide in the magazine's November/December issue. Of every dollar spent at a locally owned business, about 70 cents stays local. Thank you for shopping locally and supporting small businesses this holiday season!
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For more information about upcoming trainings and events, please visit our website.
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The Pathway to Become a
Designated Community |
MMSA has developed a Designation Pathway for communities interested in developing and operating a full time Main Street program. MMSA will work closely with communities to build the capacity to be a sustainable and fully functioning MMSA Designated Program.
Communities interested in developing and operating a full time Main Street program must first apply as an Associate Member. During the duration of Associate level membership, MMSA will offer training and guidance to the local community regarding what MMSA membership entails, as well as assistance in drafting the Network Community application.
MMSA will have an Application Workshop for Associate Members interested in applying for Network Community membership on Friday, March 3, 2023 in Jackson.
MMSA will then accept Network Community applications from March to the end of June that will be reviewed by the MMSA Board of Directors.
Once approved for Network Community membership, MMSA staff will work alongside the local Main Street program during a period of 1 to 2 years to build local capacity and meet eligibility requirements before applying for Designated Community membership, which is the top tier of membership levels. Read more about the Membership Pathway.
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Welcome to our new Associate Members:
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City of Bay Springs
Charleston-Tallahatchie County Chamber of Commerce
Friends of Flora
Main Street Leakesville
Petal Area Chamber of Commerce
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Thank you to the following returning Investors:
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Keystone
Entergy Mississippi
Mississippi Development Authority
Sustainer
Atmos Energy
Bank of Commerce
CREATE Foundation
The Cottage Industry
Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau
Supporter
Visit Hattiesburg
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2021 Economic Impact in Mississippi
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In 2021, Main Street communities generated the following economic impacts
in the State of Mississippi:
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193 net new businesses
49 business expansions
603 net new jobs created
$66.4 million in private investment
$119.9 million in public investment
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| 95 public improvement projects
58 rehabilitation projects
14 new construction projects
241 new downtown residential units
28,452 volunteer hours
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MMSA is proud to partner with these Annual Investors who financially support our work!
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Missisippi Main Street is on a Mission!
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The mission of the Mississippi Main Street Association is to be a catalyst for the preservation and economic revitalization of Mississippi’s historic downtowns and traditional commercial districts. The Mississippi Main Street Association provides visionary leadership to Mississippi’s most storied places. We foster economic and community development through strategies that promote community engagement, pride of place, and quality design to achieve long-term economic growth. MMSA empowers Mississippi’s local Main Street leaders to create vibrant places and thriving economies by implementing the Main Street Approach — organization, design, promotion, and economic vitality.
#MSMainStreet #WeAreMainStreet #MainStreetisMississippi
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