The Gulf Coast Restoration Fund Advisory Board recently completed its review of applications and formally submitted a ranked list to the Mississippi Development Authority of projects to be considered for $69 million in remaining funds stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The money, which comes from a settlement with BP, would be best be used for the following, according to the board:
| Project | Recommended funding |
| Gulfport/Biloxi Regional Airport Runway Extension | $3,500,000 |
| Regional Research & Development Revolving Loan Fund | $7,000,000 |
| Long Beach Harbor Complex Restoration | $7,000,000 |
| Bollinger MS Bulkhead Rehabilitation | $5,000,000 |
| Memorial Hospital Multispecialty Center | $8,000,000 |
| HCDC I-10 & Canal Road Site Development | $4,000,000 |
| William Carey University Student Housing | $3,200,000 |
| Stennis International Airport Site 1 Hangar Development | $7,000,000 |
| Superior Optical Facility Expansion | $5,000,000 |
| City of Moss Point Natural Gas Pipeline Extension | $2,800,000 |
| George County Industrial Park Water System | $1,000,000 |
| Stone County Industrial Park Acquisition and Sewer | $2,500,000 |
| Pearl River Industrial Park Speculative Building | $8,000,000 |
| Pass Christian Downtown Redevelopment | $2,000,000 |
| USM Research Foundation Gulf Blue Accelerator | $1,000,000 |
| Mississippi Songwriters Performing Arts Center | $2,000,000 |
The GCRF Advisory Board reviewed 89 project applications received in September and hosted four public meetings to discuss potential projects and hear presentations. According to officials, the final list of recommended projects reflects a need-based balance across not only coastal counties but also sectors such as infrastructure, workforce development, healthcare, and innovation.
One of the board’s top priorities included a revolving loan trust fund to support targeted industry development and recruitment across the six-county region. The concept is to provide gap financing alongside traditional financing and have the money to revolve back into the fund so it can be deployed again to multiple projects over time.
“I’m proud of the work accomplished by the advisory board. It was grounded in transparency, public engagement, and with the goal of identifying projects that have the greatest regional impact,” Jamie Miller, chair of the GCRF Advisory Board, said. “The board is committed to recommending projects that meet the statutory intent, leverage private investment, and create long-term economic opportunity across the coast.”
The Mississippi Development Authority will now weigh the project rankings provided by the board and turn over a final set of recommendations to lawmakers heading into the 2025 session. Lawmakers will have the final say on how the $69 million is allocated.
“The recommendations provided by the advisory board serve as valuable guidance to MDA as we develop our final recommendation to the Mississippi Legislature,” MDA executive director Bill Cork said. “I want to thank the members of the board for their dedication to this important effort.”