Reports - Mississippi Renewal

166 | ROAD MAP TO ACCOUNTABILITYRECOMMENDATIONS7 Local governments should raise roadside beautifi cation standards. Local governments8 Local governments and beautifi cation committees should enhance landscaping in public areas. Appropriate local organizations suchcounty beautifi cation committees and neighborhood garden clubs should provide volunteers for a massive planning, landscaping, andmaintenance effort.9 State and local tourism offi cials should share the news of recovery and renewal and meet with booking agents, airlines offi cials, andtourism industry groups to share plans that the gaming industry and other major attractions will rebuild and return bigger and better thanbefore.10 The state legislature should begin the restoration of our cultural and historic attractions by enacting state Historic Preservation Tax Creditlegislation (HB 1604) which would provide state tax credits and go along with federal preservation tax credits to commercial andresidential property owners who restore damaged historic resources. The U.S. Congress should extend KETRA to 2007.Responsible Entities and Funding SourcesLocal governments and local organizationsState and local tourism offi cialsState legislature and U.S. Congress11 Tourism, heritage, and cultural organizations should consider opportunities to share resources. Local organizations12 The Governor’s Offi ce and MDA should host planning charrettes on the model of the Mississippi Renewal Forum’s design charrette. Asimilar approach for taking ideas to action can be used to develop strategies for heritage and cultural tourism, for retail businesses, and forother sub-sections of the tourism economy.Governor and MDA13 The state and the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Commission should quickly complete the Coliseum expansion and remodeling. State of Mississippi and Mississippi Coast Coliseum Commission14 Tourism promotion organizations should follow through with the creation of a clearinghouse and one-stop-shop to research and apply forgrants, loans and other support for existing tourism-based organizations.15 The Tourism Promotion Commission should develop a new marketing plan and slogan for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The plans shouldconsider and support the goal to reach Tier One designation.16 Events and festivals should continue. Hotels should receive appropriate resources to open quickly and accommodate visitors to theseevents.MDA, the Mississippi Main Street Association, Mississippi HeritageTrust, and the MississippiDepartment of Archives and HistoryTourism Promotion CommissionLocal festival organizers. Funding sources include MDA andfestival organizers in other states.17 Tourism promotion organization should focus on golf and charter fi shing. CVBs, Chambers of Commerce18 The Mississippi Golf Association should attract regional golfers and place golfers with available rooms. MDA can help the Golf Associationcreate and fi nance promotional material and distribute it to golfi ng market. The charter boat industry also survived the hurricane comparativelywell and should be part of the state’s short-term tourism promotion.19 Private development should transition the Coast from the nation’s premier voluntourism market to a Tier One destination. This includesbuilding additional hotel rooms, meeting and convention space, restoring and/or reconstructing museums/aquariums/learning andvisitor’s centers, and launching a major nationwide marketing campaign by the Tourism Promotion Commission20 MDA and the local CVB should create at least one new major attraction in South Mississippi. A NASCAR track, zoo, professional sportsfacility, and a cruise ship are all possibilities. A new J.L. Scott Marine Education Center, Biloxi Seafood Museum, NASA’s Infi nity complexand the eco-tourism opportunities along the Pascagoula River can each become major attractions. A new Hurricane Katrina Experience atInfi nity could teach about record-breaking Katrina and about hurricanes in general. This could be tied to a coast-wide “high water mark”tour.21 MDOT and the Mississippi Coast Transportation Authority should link attractions, accommodations, and convention and meeting facilitiesby trolley, rail, ferryboat, bike and pedestrian paths, and other multi-modal options.MDA and Mississippi Golf AssociationPrivate corporations22 Tourism organizations should leverage the “mini-brands” of our city centers. Tourism organizations23 MDA and “eco-tourism” operators should advance “eco-tourism” opportunities. MDA24 Local developers should expand the retail horizons. MDA and local governments should target major retailers like Nordstrom’s, Saks,Target, Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn – especially those willing to tailor their store designs to the style and scale appropriate to theCoast. At the same time, encourage local artists and other entrepreneurs to create products that refl ect the culture of South Mississippi.25 Local governments and cultural organizations should create more themed “trails.” Possible unique tour paths include a Museum Trail, GolfTrail, Nature Trail, African-American History Trail, a Civil War to Civil Rights Heritage Trail, and Art Trail.26 Local and CVB offi cials should work with the state legislature to restructure tourism promotion and funding. The Tourism Promotion Commissionshould be created and new funding sources considered, such as a 1% F&B tax - to rewach a goal of a $20 million annual budgetto market South Mississippi tourism.MDA and local CVB. Funded by private development withappropriated tax incentives.MDOT and Mississippi Coast Transportation Authority. Fundingavailable through Federal Transit Authority grant programs.Local developers and MDALocal governments and cultural organizationsLocal and CVB offi cials and state legislature