Special to The Pass Post
The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) recently designated the city of Pass Christian as an official Mississippi Main Street Community.
The ceremony took place at the Pass Christian Historical Society building, with a light reception following.
Working through the MMSA membership pathway, Pass Christian Main Street (PCMS) became a Network member of MMSA in 2022 and recently met all benchmarks to achieve official Main Street Designation. Pass Christian Main Street was previously designated as a Main Street Community in 2011 and has been working in recent years to re-establish its status with MMSA.
“The City of Pass Christian is very fortunate to have our Main Street achieve its certification," said Mayor Jimmy Rafferty. "Many thanks to all of those who played a part in helping us get the certification which will make us eligible for grants."
"Main Street has already had a positive impact on our community, and we are looking forward to more enhancements in the future," Rafferty added.
“The City of Pass Christian’s commitment to its people, history and growth is evident by their obtaining official Main Street Designation with the Mississippi Main Street Association," said Jim Miller, MMSA Executive Director. "The MMSA team looks forward to working with Pass Christian Main Street to execute and implement their Downtown Roadmap for continued preservation and economic vitality."
Speakers at the designation included Mayor Jimmy Rafferty, Vice President of the MMSA Board of Directors Kelle Barfield, MMSA Executive Director Jim Miller, Pass Christian Main Street Board President Wendy Diaz del Valle and Director of Pass Christian Main Street Robin Rafferty.
"The Pass Christian Main Street Board of Directors is thrilled that the foundation has earned the honor of becoming a ‘Designated’ Main Street organization and is looking forward to the additional opportunities this brings to the community," said Pass Christian Main Street Board President Wendy Diaz del Valle.
The mission of the Mississippi Main Street Association is to be a catalyst for the preservation and economic revitalization of Mississippi’s historic downtowns and traditional commercial districts.
The Mississippi Main Street Association provides visionary leadership to Mississippi’s most storied places, fostering economic and community development through strategies that promote community engagement, pride of place, and quality design to achieve long-term economic growth. MMSA empowers Mississippi’s local Main Street leaders to create vibrant places and thriving economies by implementing the Main Street Approach — organization, design, promotion and economic vitality.
Since 1993, MMSA has provided more than $6 billion in public and private re-investment back into Main Street communities. For more information, visit www.MSMainStreet.com.
