Facade Grant Program

To help local businesses grow and thrive in a changing, often challenging economy, the Gulfport Main Street Association has activated a Façade Grant Master Plan Program for implementation in partnership with Mississippi Power, Mississippi Main Street and the City of Gulfport.

Funded through grants from Mississippi Main Street, Mississippi Power Foundation, and Gulfport Main Street events, the Façade Grant Master Plan Program will focus on proverbial “face lifts” enhancing the overall appearance of the city’s Innovation and Quarters districts to improve existing commercial businesses and attract potential investors.

“Our Gulfport Main Street vision for this Façade Grant Master Plan Program looks to spark renewed interest in these important districts within our community by helping businesses already operating in those areas and foster new business development,” said Gulfport Main Street Executive Director Laurie Toups. “We encourage private development and work to bridge financial gaps to cover costs for improvements and bring about additional aesthetic rehabilitation that helps our local economy grow.”

The Façade Grant Master Plan program is an important initiative to assist the private sector in pursuing renovation and improvements benefiting the city’s overall business climate. The program will award grants on a competitive basis, with priority for applications proposing projects that help the applicant business grow and use local vendors. The Innovation and Quarter districts located northwest of central downtown and north of the railroad tracks, in Gulfport already have many features key to becoming major destinations for business and specialty retail as well as Gulf Coast residential living.

A 501(c)3 organization, Gulfport Main Street Association is committed to cultivating Main Street districts’ resources, including embracing and assisting existing businesses. 

Press Release

GULFPORT, MS (July 21, 2022) - Gulfport Main Street Association is awarding more than $25,000 in the first-round of the Façade Grants Master Plan Program this week in partnership with Mississippi Power Foundation and the City of Gulfport.

Funded through a grant from Mississippi Power Foundation and Gulfport Main Street events, the Façade Grant Master Plan Program will focus on proverbial “face lifts” enhancing the overall appearance of the city’s Innovation and Quarters districts to improve existing commercial businesses and attract potential investors.

Grants have been awarded to: 

  • Glass Solutions, 1621 29th Avenue

  • Rinconcito Latino, 1924 25th Avenue

  • Forget Me Not Florist, 1920 25th Avenue

  • The Laundromat, 2415 20th Street

  • The Salloum Law Firm, 1622 24th Avenue

  • J.T. Hall Funeral Services, 1910 21st Avenue

  • Anna’s Closet, 1623 33rd Avenue

The grants are awarded on a competitive basis with priority placed on applications where proposed projects will result in the growth of local/small business and where local vendors are utilized.

“The Façade Grant Master Plan was designed to make an impact with the entrepreneurs who’ve taken the bold leap to open a small business,” said Executive Director of the Mississippi Power Foundation Steven Dick. “These grants will not only help beautify the downtown Gulfport business landscape, but they’ll also encourage visitors to explore and learn more about the city.”

The Façade Grant Master Plan program is an important initiative to assist the private sector in pursuing renovation and improvements benefiting the city’s overall business climate. The Innovation and Quarter districts are located northwest of central downtown and north of the railroad tracks, in Gulfport.  These areas already have many features key to becoming major destinations for business and specialty retail as well as Gulf Coast residential living.

The Façade Grant Program is open to Gulfport Main Street members located within these districts.  Application, guidelines and the boundaries can be found on at www.downtowngulfport.org or contact Laurie Toups at ltoups@gulfport-ms.gov.

A 501(c)3 organization, Gulfport Main Street Association is committed to cultivating Main Street districts’ resources, including embracing and assisting existing businesses.