Bill > HB1716

This bill revises the Mississippi Main Street Revitalization Grant Program Act by updating definitions and administrative procedures. It expands the types of eligible recipients for grants to include cities and counties, and certain business improvement districts, in addition to Main Street Designated Communities, Network Communities, and Associate Communities, with these communities needing to maintain good standing with the Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) and possess tax-exempt status from the IRS. The bill clarifies that "Administrator" now refers to the MMSA, while the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) will oversee the grant program, accepting applications, prioritizing them in consultation with the MMSA, and submitting suggested recipients to the Legislature, though this legislative review process is waived for grants funded from the Mississippi Main Street Revitalization Grant Program Fund in fiscal year 2027. The bill also adjusts matching fund requirements for smaller municipalities and specifies that grant funds can be used for acquiring land and improvements, preserving historic structures, and other revitalization initiatives, with a maximum grant of $500,000 per community annually.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1716.xml