The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) celebrated downtown revitalization success and announced statewide award winners at its 2025 Annual Awards Luncheon at The South in downtown Jackson.
The Annual Awards Luncheon honors Main Street directors, board members, and volunteers and recognizes the most outstanding downtown revitalization projects and events from designated Main Street communities throughout Mississippi.
“Main Street programs are an essential economic driver in our state, and we honor and celebrate the local and state champions at our Annual Awards,” said Kelle Barfield, MMSA’s 2025-2026 Board President.
MMSA staff and award sponsors presented the 2025 awards to recipients from designated Main Street communities throughout the state.
This year’s award recipients are:
Amory Main Street, Inc.
Biloxi Main Street
Cleveland Main Street
Main Street Columbus
Main Street Crystal Springs
Main Street Greenville
Downtown Hattiesburg Association
Hernando Main Street Chamber
Louisville Main Street
Meridian Main Street
New Albany Main Street
Ocean Springs Main Street
Okolona Area Chamber Main Street
Main Street Pascagoula
Picayune Main Street, Inc.
Pontotoc County Chamber and Main Street
Saltillo Main Street Association
Starkville Main Street Association
Tunica Main Street
Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association
Vicksburg Main Street Program
West Point Main Street
In addition, the 2025 Nationally Accredited and Affiliate Main Street programs were recognized.
Nationally accredited communities include: Aberdeen, Amory, Baldwyn, Batesville, Biloxi, Booneville, Cleveland, Clinton, Columbia, Columbus, Crystal Springs, Greenville, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Itawamba County, Kosciusko, Laurel, Louisville, Meridian, Moss Point, Natchez, Nettleton, New Albany, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Pearl, Philadelphia, Picayune, Pontotoc County, Ripley, Saltillo, Senatobia, Starkville, Tunica, Tupelo, Vicksburg, Water Valley, and West Point.
2025 Affiliate communities include: Corinth, Gulfport, Leake County, Okolona, Sumrall, and Woodville.
Pass Christian was recognized as a new designated Main Street community this year.
The Vicksburg Main Street Program was recognized for being a semi-finalist for the 2025 Great American Main Street Award.
New Network programs for 2025 include Bay Springs, Brandon, Magee, and Olive Branch.
Main Street directors who have served for 10 years or longer in their communities include: Kay Miller of Biloxi (22 years), Cynthia Sutton of Ocean Springs (18 years), Tara Lytal of Clinton (18 years), Reba Beebe of Picayune (17 years), Kim Hopkins of Vicksburg (17 years), Lori Tucker of Booneville (17 years), Craig Helmuth of Tupelo (16 years), Ann Tackett of Aberdeen (13 years), Barbara Bigelow of Columbus (12 years), Lisa Klutts of West Point (12 years), and Tim Moore of Philadelphia (12 years).
This year’s Annual Awards Presenting Sponsors were Hancock Whitney, Community Foundation for Mississippi/Mississippi Rural Placemaking Summit, and Regions.
Individual Award Sponsors included: Neel-Schaffer, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center, Belinda Stewart Architects, Rasberry Financial Services, Ten One Strategies, MAGCOR, Lorelei Books, SuperTalk Mississippi, City of Vicksburg, Mississippi Tourism Association, Mississippi Heritage Trust, AIA Mississippi, and West Point Main Street.
In 2024, Mississippi Main Street’s Designated Communities generated 365 new businesses, 71 business expansions, 878 new jobs, 130 building rehabilitations, and 657 downtown residential units.
In addition, 119 public improvement projects were completed as well as 127 new construction projects in downtown business districts. More than $357 million was invested by the public sector, and more than $299 million was invested by the private sector in 2024, and more than 53,301 volunteer hours were recorded.
Since 1993, MMSA has generated more than $7.2 billion in private and public investment (including more than $2.2 billion in public investment).
MMSA currently has 48 Designated Main Street communities, five Network communities, and 34 Associate members.
