Reports - Mississippi Renewal

84 | TOURISMto MDA. The origin of such an organizationmay exist in the tri-countypartnership recognized by the state.Regardless of the enabling legislation,the area needs a Coast-wide mechanismfor managing and funding tourismmarketing and promotion. Financialassistance is needed to keepthe organizations such as CVB operationaluntil they can recover theirown funding. Enacting a 1 percentfood and beverage tax may providemuch of the necessary funding.■ Local governments should rebuildpublic piers and marinas according tostronger construction standards andbest practices models provided by theMississippi Department of Wildlife &Fisheries. The Coast must have reliablefacilities to attract boaters, fishermen,and charter boats. Fundingfor these projects may be availablethrough the Water Resource-PlanningAssistance to States program.■ The Tourism Promotion Commissionshould research and test the TierOne destination criteria, includingvalidation of the assumptions and criteria(number of rooms, exhibitionspace, etc.) and determine the retailcapacity needed to attain Tier Onestatus. Additionally, the Tourism PromotionCommission should quantifythe benefits of Tier One status andthe methods to market effectively thedesignation. Funding for this studymay be available through grants fromthe U.S. Chamber of Commerceand/or the federal Economic DevelopmentAdministration.■ Local governments should raise roadsidebeautification standards. The areamust be maintained as a clean, pristineenvironment like any major destinationattraction. The boards of supervisorsin Hancock, Harrison, andJackson Counties should standardizelitter laws and enforce them. Eachcounty’s beautification commissionsor organizations should implementKeep America Beautiful educationalprograms to encourage litter controland cleanup.■ Local governments and beautificationcommittees should enhance landscapingin public areas. Hurricane Katrinatook thousands of trees, shrubs, flowers,and plants from neighborhoodsand roadways. 15 Besides the loss oftheir beauty, the trees cleaned the air,slowed erosion, and provided windbreaksfrom storms. Replacing cen-