Greater Greenville Housing and Revitalization Association (GGHRA) has been awarded a
$10,000 community grant by Regions Bank. Funds from this award will help advance the mission of GGHRA which revolves around developing, redeveloping, and sustaining affordable housing options for low-income families throughout the region, as well as promoting the redevelopment of Greenville’s Central Business District.   
 
The relationship between GGHRA and Regions started in 1998 when the two entities teamed up to develop GGRHA’s first affordable housing complex, Broadway Villas.  Since then, Regions and GGHRA have united on other various projects which have positively impacted the standard of living for so many residents of the Mississippi Delta.  One of the most notable endeavors was the development of The Reserves at Gray Park, an award-winning eco-friendly affordable housing development centrally located in Greenville, Mississippi.  This townhouse style development was completed in 2018 through a combination of funding sources, including construction and permanent financing which was provided by Regions Bank. 

Daniel Boggs, CEO of GGHRA, expressed his sincere appreciation for the long-time relationship between the two entities.  “The mission of Greater Greenville couldn’t be fulfilled without strong community partners like Regions Bank. It takes all of us, doing our part, to make this world a better place. We understand that Regions Bank has supported numerous initiatives throughout their service area in the Southeast Region, but we are truly humbled that they have decided to deepen their relationship with Greater Greenville through this grant.  We look forward to developing many more great projects with them”.  

Regions Bank Greenville Market Executive, Walt Stephens, echoes Boggs’s sentiments, “Our mission at Regions is to 'make life better' for our entire community. We strive to do this through creating shared value between ourselves and the communities we serve. Our focus on inclusive growth guides our community outreach priorities and allows us to focus on measurable change. Having access to safe and affordable housing is the cornerstone of the American dream. Regions is thrilled to be able to work with the Greater Greenville Housing and Revitalization Association to help families achieve their personal and financial goals, while also enabling the GGHRA to continue to invest in our community.”
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Looking to the future, GGHRA seeks to continue improving the Greenville and Washington County areas through its programs and services. The organization recently interviewed architectural firms for their next endeavor, the Madison-Thomas Project. The goal of this development is to renovate two dilapidated downtown buildings into a mixed-use space which will provide safe, decent and affordable housing options to area residents, and move-in ready office or retail storefronts for small businesses. Boggs says “we are excited about opportunities this next project will bring to the downtown area, as it is being developed only a few hundred feet from the new federal courthouse.”  

JACKSON, Miss. (August 19, 2020) – The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) celebrated achievements of Mississippi Main Street Communities with a special virtual Annual Awards presentation this year.
 
MMSA staff presented the 2020 awards from the Old Capitol Inn in downtown Jackson via Facebook Live. The annual awards honors Main Street directors, board members and volunteers and recognizes the most outstanding downtown development projects from Main Street communities in Mississippi. “Mississippi Main Street is excited to celebrate the achievements of our Main Street communities,” said Steven Dick, MMSA Board President. “Our local leaders have worked tirelessly to provide economic opportunities, increase quality of life, and preserve what makes our downtowns special.”
 
Thomas Gregory, MMSA State Coordinator, Jennifer Prather, Director of Community Development, and Jeannie Zieren, Director of Communication and Marketing, presented the awards. This year's award recipients are:
• Biloxi Main Street
• Cleveland Main Street
• Main Street Clinton
• Main Street Columbia
• Main Street Columbus
• Main Street Corinth
• Greenville Main Street
• Main Street Greenwood
• Gulfport Main Street
• Holly Springs Main Street Chamber
• Laurel Main Street
• Kosciusko Main Street
• Louisville/Noxapater Main Street
• New Albany Main Street
• Ocean Springs Main Street
• Main Street Pascagoula
• Philadelphia Main Street
• Picayune Main Street
• Ripley Main Street
• Senatobia Main Street
• Starkville Main Street
• Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association
• West Point Main Street
• Woodville/Wilkinson County Main Street
 
In addition to announcing the 2020 award winners, all Main Street member communities were recognized as well as MMSA annual investors and MMSA board members for 2020-2021.
In addition, the 2020 nationally accredited programs were recognized, as well as new MMSA communities, and Main Street directors who have served for 10 years or longer in their communities.
The Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association was also recognized for being a national semi-finalist for the Great American Main Street Award by the National Main Street Center.
The Mississippi Development Authority, Entergy Mississippi, and Mississippi Power were recognized as top investors of MMSA and sponsors of the annual awards.
In 2019, Mississippi Main Street's Designated Communities generated 185 net new businesses, 62 business expansions to existing businesses, 633 net new jobs, 101 building rehabilitations and 331 downtown residential units. In addition, 178 public improvement projects were completed as well as 36 new construction projects in downtown business districts. More than $148 million was invested by the public and private sectors in 2019, and more than 43,211 volunteer hours were recorded. Every dollar spent in this organization results in $80 of private investment, the highest return on investment of any economic activity in the state. Since 1993, MMSA has generated more than $5.5 billion in private and public investment (including more than $1.3 billion in public investment). MMSA currently has 45 Designated Main Street Community members, four Network members, and eight Associate members.
 
Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) is a catalyst for the preservation and economic revitalization of Mississippi’s historic downtowns and districts. As a Main Street America™ Coordinating Program, MMSA helps lead a powerful, grassroots network consisting of more than 40 Coordinating Programs and over 1,200 neighborhoods and communities across the country committed to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

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With continued concern for the health and safety of our community, vendors, and attendees, the Delta Hot Tamale Festival scheduled for October 15-17, 2020 has been canceled. All future Main Street Greenville sponsored contests associated with the Delta Hot Tamale Festival, including the Miss Hot Tamale Contest, have also been canceled.
 
Main Street Greenville, the organizers of the event, carefully considered all options, including several modified versions of the festival. However, the ability to plan such a large-scale event is hampered by the uncertain probability of future social distancing mandates and possible increased COVID-19 outbreaks, not only in the City of Greenville and Washington County, but the surrounding areas.
 
We recognize the unfortunate impact this decision will have on our local businesses, as well as the vendors who travel to participate in the Festival each year. We encourage all past and future festival-goers to support these businesses at their permanent locations. 
 
The Delta Hot Tamale Festival is the largest event produced by Main Street Greenville. Proceeds from this event help support our many community development projects throughout the year.  As such, Main Street Greenville will sell a commemorative t-shirt of this year’s canceled events.  All net proceeds from these t-shirts will be used to help advance the mission of our organization. Please follow us on Facebook @MainStGvilleMS to be a part of the t-shirt unveiling later this month.
 
Main Street Greenville wants to thank everyone for their patience as we discussed and deliberated all possible avenues for this year’s festival. The decision to cancel did not come lightly.
 
We look forward to spicing things up with you again at the 10th Annual Delta Hot Tamale Festival, which is scheduled for October 14-16, 2021! 

Elisha’s travels landed him in Cape Cod where he worked in the restaurant business for a few decades. Elisha Williams never forgot his roots though. When Mississippi called his heart, he came back home and picked up where he left off.

With the help of his wife, Elisha farms a plot of land just outside Cleveland just as he did as a youngster. He has tilled soil all his life, and the move back home allowed him to perfect his craft. “I just like to do it for the community. Young people look at this stuff, and they don’t know what it is or what to do with it. I like to educate those young folks and tell them they can make the best dinner with this right here,” he said pointing to his table of freshness. “I just want them to learn to respect their bodies and the land the way my mother and father taught me.”

Over the years, Elisha has farmed everything from peppers and corn to okra and eggplant. He picks his fruits and vegetables the night before or the morning of the market. This is his third season at Greenville’s Farmers’ Market, but he has been making the rounds at other area markets for the last several years. Elisha says he isn’t afraid to try growing anything new, because Lord willing, the harvest will come.

Come find Elisha, his wife, and his favorite hat 8 am-noon, Wednesdays and Saturdays, May-September, 734 Washington Avenue, Downtown Greenville. 

​​Daniel Boggs, CEO of Greater Greenville Housing and Revitalization Association, Inc. and Greater Greenville Development Foundation, Inc./Main Street Greenville (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Greater Greenville”), names Deanne New the organizations’ Marketing Coordinator.
 
“We are very excited to have Deanne join the Greater Greenville team. In this position, Deanne will help us expand our online presence which has become increasingly vital in serving our community in recent months.  Her skill set, experience and knowledge will be great assets to our organization, and I look forward to working with her to further advance our mission and services.”  Boggs said of the hire. 
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An alumnus of Mississippi State, Deanne comes to Greater Greenville from Regions Bank where she was Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager in Leland. “I am excited about the programs and events GGHRA and Main Street manage and am proud to be a part of their positive impacts on our community.”
 
Deanne and her husband Kris reside in Glen Allan. They have two children and are members of Glen Allan Methodist Church. Deanne is a board member for United Way Washington County and co-instructor for the WCEA’s Leadership Washington County program.
 
The Greater Greenville organizations are two independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporations. The mission of Greater Greenville Housing and Revitalization Association, Inc. is to develop, provide and promote safe, affordable, and decent housing in conjunction with a focus on designing, researching, and/or promoting revitalization activities within Washington County. Main Street Greenville is a division of the Greater Greenville Development Foundation, Inc., which is dedicated to the preservation and economic redevelopment of downtown Greenville.  Main Street is also the event organizer of the Delta Hot Tamale Festival, Fourth of July Fireworks Show, Greenville Farmers’ Market, and Greenville Christmas Parade. Combined, the programs of Greater Greenville greatly contribute to the economic vitality of the region.