At its most recent board meeting, the Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) Board of Directors approved the acceptance of one new Designated Main Street Community and three Network Main Street Communities.
Pass Christian has been approved as a new Designated Main Street Community, and Brandon, Magee, and Olive Branch have been approved to move forward as Network Members.
“On behalf of the MMSA Board of Directors, we are thrilled to officially approve Pass Christian as a MMSA Designated Community,” said Chris Hinton, MMSA Board President. “The city’s distinctive historic charm, complemented by its diverse amenities and vibrant creative community, perfectly captures the essence of what makes a downtown area a true destination.”
“The MMSA Board also looks forward to working with Brandon, Magee, and Olive Branch as new Network Members,” Hinton added. “During their time as Associate Members, we recognized their strong commitment to fostering growth and development, and we are now eager to build upon that foundation.”
The official designation of Pass Christian Main Street will be held in early 2025. Pass Christian joins 48 other Designated Main Street Communities in Mississippi. Main Street Designation is the highest membership level of MMSA and receives the most services and grant opportunities.
“Pass Christian Main Street has demonstrated committed leadership and support from both the public and private sectors in the community,” said Jim Miller, MMSA Executive Director. “We are thrilled to designate the community in the new year and to continue to see continued growth and rejuvenation of the historic downtown district.”
Brandon Main Street, Magee Main Street, and Olive Branch Main Street have been approved as Network Members and will officially start the Network pathway in 2025. The Network level is the next level of membership after Associate membership and requires extensive benchmarks to be met before the program can apply to become a Designated Main Street Community.
MMSA staff work with Network programs to grow and build program capacity through focused efforts in design, economic vitality, organization and promotion.
“Each of these communities has worked hard to establish or re-establish Main Street programs in their historic downtown districts,” Miller said. “The MMSA Board and staff are confident in the trajectory of growth for these Main Street programs, and our team looks forward to working with and supporting their momentum.”
