Kristen Holley, Moss Point Main Street Coordinator and Greg Miller, Economic Development Director for the City of Moss Point, work together in developing business and tourism incentives for Moss Point. (Submitted by Johnnie Bernhard)
Kristen Holley, Moss Point Main Street Coordinator and its recently formed economic restructuring committee, want to see change in downtown Moss Point.
“The committee was formed in May 2011,” Holley said. “In 2012, we developed a work plan that includes a business recruitment packet, a façade incentive program and a plan to host a realtor, developer and investor day.
“We’re throwing out ideas of bringing restaurants like Half Shell Oyster House or Shaggy’s to Moss Point. Now, everyone from east Jackson County drives to Mobile or Harrison County to dine. Why not bring it here?”
“I think we’ll have a hard time getting a national franchise with the current economy to come here, not that it can’t be done. But what we can do is step up to the plate with better business incentives,” said Greg Miller, the city’s Economic Development Director.
Miller works closely with Holley and the Moss Point Main Street Board in developing those business incentives.
The majority of Moss Point Main Street funding comes from the city of Moss Point. Part of the business recruitment plan features a four- phase redevelopment of the riverfront area in Moss Point.
The Moss Point Riverfront Park is the staging area for many of Moss Point Main StreetâÂÂs events, including the Friday night movie night offering free family-friendly entertainment for area residents. (Submitted by Johnnie Bernhard)
Developed by the Mississippi Main Street Association, the plan calls for increased parking, landscaping along Main Street, the riverfront’s mixed-use development, a Central Fish House that includes fish cleaning and sales, restaurants and outdoor dining, a market green, cross walks and traffic calming devices, and the demolition and relocating of the old city hall and police station.
The plans were presented to city leaders October 2011. Currently, the new police station is being relocated to Bellview Shopping Center and the new city hall will open August 3 with a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m.
“These projects were planned earlier, before the Mississippi Main Street redevelopment plan, but we follow the city’s comprehensive plan and add support,” said Holley.
Miller and Holley admit there are many challenges to the revitalization of downtown Moss Point.
“There are the everyday challenges of establishing safety, lawn and landscaping maintenance, vacant lot clean-ups, and making the downtown area pedestrian friendly by slowing down traffic,” Holley said.
“Moss Point downtown is the No. 1 reflection of our civic pride. That has to be reflected to visitors and potential business, so it is my job to make sure business leaders and city leaders are satisfied with what we are doing. I have to let them know what we need to do to revitalize Moss Point. I try to involve them in every aspect of the Main Street program.”
Miller echoed Holley’s concerns.
“I need to get the city leaders to adhere to our comprehension plan,” Miller said. “You have to have a plan to move forward. My role is to keep them abreast of this plan and to always have it (the plan) in the back of their minds when they make a decision for the city.”
The latest attempt by Moss Point Main Street Association to bring families to downtown Moss Point and its main attraction, the Riverfront Park, is a free monthly movie night.
Co-sponsored by Scordino’s Main Street Market, movie night’s goal is to promote family-friendly entertainment in its signature park and the staging anchor for many events. The next movie night is scheduled for August 17.
The group recently hosted the Rockin’ the River Festival featuring live music and a “Quick and Dirty” Boat-Building Contest.
“We’re satisfied with our numbers from the event. Overall it was a quality event and we’re excited about hosted it again next year. We will continue to build upon it as an annual event,” said Holley.
Moss Point Main Street is in the planning stage of hosting the Tunes and Tales on the River event scheduled for Oct. 26-27 at Riverfront Park. Partnering with the Pascagoula River Audubon Center and Real Food Gulf Coast, the event will feature a local cuisine buffet, a “boucherie” or Cajun hog butchery, BBQ cook-off and live music.
“Everything we do is about building trust in the community, so we can help Moss Point take off,” said Holley.
To learn more about these events, contact the Moss Point Main Street office at 228-623-0994 or visit their web site at www.mosspointmainstreet.com
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