Page 118 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2024

story by Geneva Dummer
Established in 1981 as a charitable, tax-exempt organization, its mission is to foster
economic development and enhance the quality of life in the Greater Biloxi Area.
We are active participants in the community. From coaching Little League teams and attending economically-beneficial events to supporting and owning local small businesses, we are deeply invested in the vibrancy of the area. Economic development
at GBEDF is about more than just financial growth; it’s about cultivating a thriving, interconnected community.
We focus heavily on improving the functionality and appeal of Biloxi’s commercial spaces. While most would be familiar with GBEDF’s past involvement with the Innovation Center, our more recent efforts include assisting the City of Biloxi with funding study updates and procurement of state funds for new and existing projects, such as the Barq building, Ground Zero, and the Multifamily Market Study Update. Last December, we proudly funded several holes on the Downtown Biloxi disc golf course.
For the past two years, we have collaborated with the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce to fund their Reoccupancy Grants. This year, we worked with Biloxi Main Street to bring a new Julia Reyes mural to Howard Avenue and we spruced up the Food Giant parking lot by pressure washing and adding a fresh coat of paint. Special thanks to Scott and Jerry Goff for taking that project
on! We also partnered with the City to fund a new “Welcome to Biloxi” sign at the Bayview exit of I-110, which will be in place later this year.
Interested in joining? We now offer a General Membership option. Reach out by scanning the QR code and completing the brief questionnaire. General members will be eligible to apply for façade grants in partnership with Mississippi Power and grants
for smaller improvement projects as well. All members are invited to attend our Annual Membership Meeting on November 6 at Ground Zero where we will welcome new members, introduce the 2025 Board of Directors, and plan next year’s projects.
118 | August 2024
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