Mississippi Main Street Announces 2018 Award Winners; Picayune wins two

Jackson--The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) celebrated achievements of Mississippi Main Street Communities at the 29th Annual Awards Luncheon in downtown Jackson.

MMSA Board President Ed Gardner and MMSA Past President Allison Beasley presented awards to recipients from local Main Street programs throughout the state.

The annual awards luncheon honors Main Street directors, board members and volunteers and recognizes the most outstanding downtown development projects from Main Street communities in Mississippi.

"This is the Mississippi Main Street Association’s most important event of the year," said Ed Gardner, MMSA Board President. "It gives us an opportunity to meet with and celebrate the local directors and investors throughout the state that are doing the hard work of making our downtown districts more competitive, successful and sustainable."

Since 1993, Mississippi Main Street Association has generated more than $5

billion in private and public investment (including more than $1.2 billion in public investment).

In 2017, Mississippi Main Street programs generated 325 net new businesses, 95 business expansions to existing businesses, 1,458 net new jobs, 109 façade rehabilitations and 86 downtown residential units.

MMSA currently has 48 active Main Street cities throughout the state, six Downtown Network members, and numerous Associate, Allied professional members, and Friends of Main Street.

The City of Picayune received two awards:

--Hometown Hero Picayune City Manager, Jim Luke

--Crosby Commons Awarded Outstanding Public Improvement Project.

Picayune Main Street, Inc, with the help of Bill & Sally Edwards of SalBil Video nominated the City of Picayune for both awards.

List of all winners announced (click here to see statewide list):

Submitted photo