Pascagoula School District Wins Spirit of Mississippi Main Street Award

JACKSON, Miss. - The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) celebrated achievements of Mississippi Main Street communities and member towns at the 2010 Annual Awards Luncheon held at the King Edward Hotel in downtown Jackson, Thursday, June 24, 2010.

The presentation of awards was made by MMSA Executive Director Bob Wilson and 2010 Board President Randy Burchfield.

The Pascagoula School District won one of the state’s top awards, Mississippi’s Spirit of Main Street Award for the district’s Family Interactive Center. Supt. Wayne Rodolfich accepted the award on behalf of the school district.

Rebecca Davis, Pascagoula’s Main Street Director, nominated the Pascagoula School District for its outstanding efforts to refurbish and transform the former Carver High School into a center where children and their families could come to learn and play together. The district refurbished the facility and then partnered with a number of businesses, industries, and civic organizations who provided resources for each of the rooms of learning. The center is also used as a training facility and a meeting place for business and industry, clubs and organizations. Pascagoula’s Junior Miss Program, the Gulf Coast Youth Symphony, the Gulf Coast Opera and the Singing River Chorale have performed in the center.

Rodolfich said the center is still expanding and he is continuing to seek sponsors for the next phase of the Family Interactive Center – constructing a castle, pirate ship, a jungle and engineering marvels of the world. The center is open to the public free of charge.

Representing the City of Pascagoula with Davis at the awards luncheon were Liz Ford and Janice Langston, both members of the Pascagoula Main Street Board of Directors. Representing the Pascagoula School District with Supt. Rodolfich were Dr J.J. Morgan, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction; and Debbie Anglin, director of communications.

"This year's award winners reflect the commitment of so many people who champion what Main Street is all about - making our communities better places to live, work and play," Wilson said.

From records dating back to 1993, the Mississippi Main Street program, a program of the Mississippi Development Authority, has been responsible for more than $4 billion in combined public and private investment across the state.

MMSA currently has 49 active community programs throughout the state as well as more than 30 Downtown Network, Association and Charrette communities. In addition to the investment figures, MMSA has been responsible for more than 4,701 new businesses, 27,766 new jobs and 3,611 building improvements.

More than 1,800 Main Street programs participate in 50 other states as well as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The Main Street program is an economic development program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.