Gulfport Main Street Activates Façade Grant Master Plan Program

Partnership to encourage business growth in city’s Innovation and Quarters districts

GULFPORT, MS (March 31, 2022) -To help local businesses grow and thrive in a changing, often challenging economy, the Gulfport Main Street Association has activated a Façade Grant Master Plan Program for implementation in partnership with Mississippi Power, Mississippi Main Street and the City of Gulfport.

Funded through grants from Mississippi Main Street, Mississippi Power Foundation, and Gulfport Main Street events, the Façade Grant Master Plan Program will focus on proverbial “face lifts” enhancing the overall appearance of the city’s Innovation and Quarters districts to improve existing commercial businesses and attract potential investors.

“Our Gulfport Main Street vision for this Façade Grant Master Plan Program looks to spark renewed interest in these important districts within our community by helping businesses already operating in those areas and foster new business development,” said Gulfport Main Street Executive Director Laurie Toups. “We encourage private development and work to bridge financial gaps to cover costs for improvements and bring about additional aesthetic rehabilitation that helps our local economy grow.”

The Façade Grant Master Plan program is an important initiative to assist the private sector in pursuing renovation and improvements benefiting the city’s overall business climate. The program will award grants on a competitive basis, with priority for applications proposing projects that help the applicant business grow and use local vendors. The Innovation and Quarter districts located northwest of central downtown and north of the railroad tracks, in Gulfport already have many features key to becoming major destinations for business and specialty retail as well as Gulf Coast residential living.

A 501(c)3 organization, Gulfport Main Street Association is committed to cultivating Main Street districts’ resources, including embracing and assisting existing businesses. 

To learn more about the Façade Grant Master Plan Program or Gulfport Main Street Association, contact Laurie Toups at ltoups@gulfport-ms.gov.