Reports - Mississippi Renewal

98 | SMALL BUSINESSpalities, pursuant to legislative authority,should create Business ImprovementDistrict Authorities (BID) in each city.A BID is a publicly-sanctioned, yetprivately-directed organization, thatsupplements public services to improveshared, geographically-defined, outdoorpublic spaces. Such organizations subscribeto a self-help doctrine, wherebya compulsory self-taxing mechanismgenerates multi-year revenue. Bringingshoppers back to downtown – especiallyin the evenings – will revitalizedowntowns and help draw restaurants,art shops, and other attractions to theserevitalized business districts. The varietyof small business boutiques will also attracttourists downtown.Rebuild or Restore HistoricDowntownsLocal governments and the state legislatureshould encourage the restorationof historic buildings for commercialor private use to help maintain asense of place, as well as adding to thecharm of downtown. Using the BIDconcept to encourage downtown businessesand property owners to worktogether and revive historic elementslost in the hurricane will create an idealenvironment that attracts business – especiallydiverse, small retail, professional,and service businesses – and will attractresidents and visitors as customers. Anhistoric district will also establish aconsistent theme for new businesses tofollow. Revenue from BID assessmentsmay also be used to market historic anddowntown districts.Conduct a Retail Charrette toDevelop More Small RetailOpportunitiesThe research conducted in preparationfor the Mississippi Renewal Forumsuggested that South Mississippi is under-servedby retailers and too dependenton “big box” discount retailers.MDA should sponsor a retail charretteto develop a plan for attracting a morediverse retail mix to the Coast. Evenbusinesses not considered “small businesses”will create opportunities formore small businesses to support themand traffic to support the existing smallbusinesses near them.