Local area projects to receive funding

The results of the second round of Gulf Coast Restoration Funds approved by the state Legislature have been released.

Eighteen projects totaling $52.8 million were approved by lawmakers, funding primarily education, downtown development and road projects.

The list, included in the Mississippi Development Authority appropriations bill, was approved after 9 p.m. Monday, as the Legislature wraps up this year’s session.

Those local area projects funded for 2021 are:

▪ $2.5 million — Hancock County Port hanger and assault landing strip

▪ $1.9 million — Picayune Friendship Park Revitalization Project

▪ $1.9 million — Pearl River Community College Aviation Aerospace Academy

▪ $1 million — City of Bay St. Louis Court Street parking facility expansion and improvement

The Legislature re-appropriated money for projects that started last year and were not fully funded.

The local area projects include:

▪ $2.5 million for multi-user aero strip at Stennis Airport

▪ $1.55 million Power Dynamics Innovations LLC for equipment and facility upgrades

▪ $1.5 million for City of Bay St. Louis Old Town Depot Revitalization District

▪ $1.5 million for City of Diamondhead commercial district transformation project

▪ $1 million for Bay St Louis Old Town Police Department

The advisory board recommended 12 projects from those that submitted applications, totaling $125.6 million. Most of them were for a much higher dollar amount than the Legislature’s list of projects.

The list included:

▪ $2 million — Pearl River Community College Hancock Aviation Aerospace Workforce Academy, Hancock County