How should the Coast spend millions in BP money? Here’s a list of winners, losers
Gulfport, Ocean Springs and the University of Southern Mississippi were big winners Tuesday in the competition for BP oil catastrophe funding designated for economic development in South Mississippi.
The Gulf Coast Restoration Fund Advisory Board will recommend that the state Legislature in 2020 fund a total of 14 South Mississippi projects at a cost of $85.5 million.
The advisory board recommends that $32.5 million be spent on the USM’s Ocean Enterprise project at the state port. The money would fund ocean access for unmanned maritime vessels, a startup fund for tech-oriented businesses and workforce development for students from high school through college.
Ocean Enterprise is designed to build South Mississippi’s capacity for high-end engineering and advanced unmanned maritime technology, generating public-private partnerships and leveraging resources already in place, including federal agencies located here.
The center is the kind of project the Legislature is looking to fund with the BP money, which will continue flowing to South Mississippi through 2033. The Legislature will have $80 million to spend in 2020 and $30 million each year in the following years.
This year, 119 projects were submitted for consideration, with most scoring low when measured against the state’s list of funding objectives.
The advisory board stressed that it wants in future years to see more projects with the ability to transform the Coast economy, including proposals with regional support and impact. Projects are required to have a match of at least 20%.
The recommended projects list for 2020 funding is expected to be submitted Dec. 1 to the Legislature, which will have final say over which projects are selected and how much funding each one receives.
The recommended projects are listed below:
▪ $73.5 million total, $32.5 million, GCRF; University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Enterprise building construction at state port aimed at high-tech partnerships and economic development.
▪ $23 million total, $18 million GCRF; Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA, build a YMCA, complete with swimming pool, at Gulfport Highands north of Interstate 10 off Cowan-Lorraine Road.
▪ $26.6 million total, $8.8 million GCRF; OHOS Development LLC, parking garage near downtown for city of Ocean Springs use.
▪ $11.2 million total, $1.2 million GCRF; Pearl River Community College, aviation aerospace workforce academy.
▪ $8 million total, $6.5 million GCRF; Stone County School District, career and technical education center.
▪ $6.9 million total, $3.9 million GCRF; Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport Authority, site expansion and preparation.
▪ $6.8 million total, $6.1 million GCRF; Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, multi-use “aero strip.”
▪ $4 million total, $2 million GCRF; city of Biloxi, Saenger Theatre restoration.
▪ $3.5 million total, $2.8 million; Michael Reso, frontage road north of Interstate 10 at Diamondhead for commercial development.
▪ $1.8 million total, 1.4 million GCRF; Walter Anderson Museum of Art, creative complex with indoor and outdoor space in downtown Ocean Springs.
▪ $1.4 million total, $1.2 million GCRF; Coastal Mississippi tourism bureau, market the Coast for business conventions and events.
▪ $1.2 million total, $1 million, GCRF; Gulf Coast Community Foundation, improve pathways south of U.S. 90, add crosswalks and lighting between Cowan Road and Edgewater Mall.
▪ $217,000 total, $100,000 GCRF, Gulfport School District, finish a STEM Exploratorium constructed from shipping containers.
▪ $57,000 total, $45,600 GCRF, Harrison County Library System, Venture Lab would add computer cubicles for patrons, especially those seeking work.
