Meet the Main Street Director, Laurie Toups

Toups was born in Gulfport and has spent the last 20 years in New Orleans.  Her last position was director of the North Rampart Main Street program.  Before Katrina, she served as director of the French Quarter Festivals.

"A lot of things are done in different places that people don't think about trying in their own hometown, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to bring those ideas and experience here.  Not everything is going to work that worked there, because Gulfport is unique," said Toups.  "So glad, so grateful to be back on the Coast, and I felt like the Coast opened its arms up to me."

Toups is back home now and ready to turn downtown into a more livable, walkable and accessible place.

"I want people to feel that Gulfport is that funky little place to go, and downtown is where it is to be," she said.


Contact Laurie at 228.868.3414 or ltoups@gulfport-ms.gov

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