State gives $49 million for 15 projects that enhance coastal Mississippi economy

Gov. Tate Reeves on Thursday announced 15 new RESTORE Act projects at the seventh annual Restoration Summit in Biloxi.

The projects total approximately $49 million.

“Mississippi’s economy is thriving in every region across our state, and this includes our Gulf Coast,” Reeves said. “These 15 new projects that I approved will strengthen our coastal economy and better the quality of life for those living there.”

The RESTORE Act was enacted in 2012 as a result of of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to help rebuild the coastal economies in Gulf states.

Reeves said the projects are chosen from proposals submitted each year.

“We’re directing funds to the areas that give us the greatest opportunity to strengthen our coastal economy and better the quality of life for those living here,” he said at a news conference Thursday in Biloxi.

Approximately $795 million already has been spent by the state through MDEQ on restoration projects across the Coast since 2012.

“There is a purpose and strategy to our restoration work,” Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Executive Director Chris Wells said. “From ecological restoration and conservation, to infrastructure, to workforce development and tourism, there are many factors at play in each project.

“We are excited for today’s announcement of projects which directs our work towards continued and purposeful restoration in Mississippi.”

Reeves said the projects also help prepare the future of the Gulf states’ economies.

For example, Reeves praised Pearl River Community College’s commitment to its aviation aerospace workforce academy, which received approximately $2 million from RESTORE funds.

He said the future of space exploration begins in Mississippi.

“These funds will go directly to providing a concrete education for students interested in landing a career in the aerospace industry,” Reeves said.

The other projects were chosen for their contributions to enhancing the Coast.The projects include funding in two buckets. One for direct funding and the other is spill impact funding.

RESTORE Act Direct Component Funding (Bucket 1)