Mission Statement

It is Main Street’s primary objective to be the catalyst in promoting, preserving, revitalizing and enhancing the economic growth of the downtown Biloxi area.

Organization Overview

Main Street Biloxi was originally conceived as a part of the Coast Main Street Project in 1990. From that humble beginning as a part shared, multiple-city endeavor, Main Street Biloxi evolved into a single city, multi-faceted, independent organization, entrusted with the responsibility to preserve, protect and promote the unique historical character of Old Biloxi, particularly as it relates to the downtown area. The primary goal of Main Street Biloxi is the preservation and revitalization of the Main Street district, an area that extends from Porter Avenue at the Historic Biloxi Lighthouse to Bellman Street,and from Highway 90 to the Railroad on Esters Blvd. We recently added the Caillavet Street corridor to the Main Street district, as it will be the gateway to the downtown business district area. Main Street Biloxi is a very active and productive organization. We have 26 Board of Directors and 10 Liaisons from various organizations within the city that come to monthly meetings held at noon on the second Monday of every month. We also have an executive board meeting each month. Committee meetings for Promotions, Design and Economic Restructuring also meet on a monthly basis. Each committee has a chairman experienced within their respected fields.

Methodology

The principle method of achieving the goals of Main Street Biloxi is through the implementation of the “Four Points Strategy”. This strategy is utilized through out the United States as part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Consistency of this strategy has proven successful in many Main Street Communities. The four-point approach is as follows:

• Organization – The organizational elements bring together the public sector, private groups and individual citizens with coordination by a paid program manager to work more effectively in the downtown and surrounding areas.

• Promotion - By promoting the downtown district in a positive manner, a community can begin to focus on the downtown area as a source of pride, social activity and economic development potential. This involves enhancing the image and changing attitudes.

• Design – By utilizing appropriate design concepts and preserving the historical integrity of the downtown area, the visual quality of the downtown buildings, signs, window displays, landscaping and environment is enhanced. The appearance of a community is crucial to its marketability.

• Economic Restructuring – This element involves assessing and strengthening economic assets in the downtown business community. Main Street enhances customer attraction by developing ways to upgrade and expand existing businesses and creating an environment that will attract new ones to strengthen the mix.