2025 State of the City: From vision to reality
Here is the prepared text of Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich’s 2025 State of the City presentation, delivered at the Biloxi Bay Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Beau Rivage.
To see the video, click here.
To see the State of the City BNews Monthly, click here.
From the podium:
Hello Biloxi. Welcome to the state of your city. Thank you all for being here today.
Thanks also to Executive Director Tina Ross-Seamans and everyone at Biloxi Bay Chamber for putting this great event together.
And, thanks to the Beau Rivage and their entire staff for always making it top-notch. Please give them a round of applause.
Today we’re here celebrating this occasion and Biloxi is at the top of its game. But our neighbors to the north in Mississippi and Alabama have suffered a number of deadly weather events just a few days ago. We know what that’s like. Let’s pause a moment
Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
This marks my 10th time to deliver this address. I’m as pumped up today as I was when I first became your mayor.
Today there are a lot of folks that I want to recognize and need to express my appreciation for their support regarding what has been accomplished in our great city over the past years.
But first, I think we should recognize the event itself, the annual Biloxi State Of The City.
In 2021, Bnews reported on its origin. It’s worth repeating some of that article. Mayor A.J. Holloway presented the first one in 1997, now pushing an incredible three decades.
“It was the brainchild of the late Tommy Munro, the longtime Biloxi booster, civic leader, respected businessman, and benevolent one. Munro marshaled support among like-minded citizens, Dickie Schmidt, Franklin Kyle, Larry Corban, and Dr. Frank Gruich, to name a few, to shine a favorable light on the city, to present an annual state of the city report.”
Biloxi attorney, Wayne Hengen was a charter member and former president of what is today the Biloxi Bay Area Chamber Of Commerce. I believe he has attended every State of the City since the first one in 1997.
Today Biloxi teems with a sense of accomplishment, excitement, energy, and anticipation. Not hope but expectation.
Next and most importantly none of this could have happened without the support of the Biloxi City Council.
Let me say, that I appreciate you for always keeping Biloxi and its citizens at heart and for being thoughtful and reasonable in your decision-making. Our Biloxi City Council:
Ward 1 Councilman George Lawrence, Ward 2 Councilman Felix Gines, Ward 3 Councilwoman Dixie Newman, Ward 4 Councilman Rodney Mcgillvary, Ward 5 Councilman Paul Tisdale, Ward 6 Councilman Kenny Glavan, and Ward 7 Councilman David Shoemaker.
Please give it up for them. You know I don’t remember any real arguments, always fun right!! Mostly fun?
Next, if Biloxi were a wheel, the spokes of that wheel would be the department directors.
At the center of what makes Biloxi roll: Chief Administrative Officer Mike Leonard, Chief Of Police John Miller, Fire Chief Nick Geiser, Parks & Recreation Sherry Bell, Community Development Jerry Creel, Public Works Billy Ray Allen, Engineering Christy Lebatard, Legal Department Peter Abide, and Ports & Harbor Division Christina Johnson.
Next, a number of organizations have made significant contributions to our city’s success and made Biloxi what it is today. Each has its own unique mission and they’re led by their own boards, directors, staff, and volunteers. Believe me, their jobs are not easy. Please acknowledge: Biloxi Public Schools, Biloxi Housing Authority, and Civil Service Commission
In Community Development: Biloxi Planning Commission, Architectural & Historical Review Commission, Tree Committee, Building Board Of Adjustments & Appeals, and Municipal Elections Committee.
Included are appointees to: Harrison County Utility Authority, Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport Authority, Mississippi Coast Coliseum Commission, Coast Transit Authority, Gulf Regional Planning Commission, Harrison County Development Commission, and Harrison County Motor Vehicle For Hire Commission.
We enjoy great partnerships with: Harrison County Board Of Supervisors, Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley and his Department, District Attorney’s Office, and South Mississippi Planning & Development District.
We have great working relationships with all our sister cities, for years now. Yes, even Gulfport. No one could figure that out but me & Billy did.
We’ve made things happen with numerous agencies at the state and federal levels, Mississippi Department Of Marine Resources, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, and our congressional delegation – representatives & senators.
But the best of all is what we have and enjoy with the United States Air Force and our beloved Keesler Air Force Base.
Now, over eight decades, growing stronger than ever. For certain, Biloxi is what is today because of Keesler and Keesler is what it is today because of Biloxi. We share the same DNA. It put us both on the map. Wherever you go, if you mention Biloxi, Keesler will be brought up. And vice versa, you say, Keesler, Biloxi will follow.
These are not just nice words. It is truly like a family. Over and over again when needed. We were there for each other. I believe that will be the case for generations to come.
As always, our Keesler cousins are with us today in force. It’s great to have: Major General Wolfe Davidson 2nd Air Force Commander, Colonel Billy Pope Jr. 81st Training Wing Commander, Colonel John Benson 403rd Reserve Wing Commander, and Colonel Peter Kulis 81st Medical Group Commander
Biloxi has some stars too. They’ve served their country all over the world and Biloxi too: Lt. General Clark Griffith and Lt. General Mike Peterson.
Look it’s not all roses. We have challenges. There are challenges that come from many directions that need to be met every day.
Take it from me, to have the quality of life we enjoy today, you don’t and you just can’t wish for things to happen. It comes from vision, leadership, and hard work. The rubber meets the road every day through the dedicated men and women in each and every one of our departments.
We will show you that in a great video that public affairs has prepared.
Now, enjoy the video and I’ll see you in a few minutes.
Recorded:
One thing we all learn in life is that progress takes time.
Over the years, the City of Biloxi has made incredible progress on so many fronts, in tourism, development, infrastructure, and the quality of life of our citizens.
Everything we accomplish begins with a great idea and a vision of how we can make Biloxi even better.
But turning that vision into reality for Biloxi takes detailed planning, hard work, and the dedication of your city’s leadership, employees, and the partners we bring in to help make it all happen. Today is about that progress.
Our city, with its French Colonial roots, is home to dreamers, artists, visionaries, and builders, often working together to make their vision a reality.
Now with a history of more than 325 years, this city, our Biloxi, is filled with an amazing reality.
Since Pierre Le Moyne, D’Iberville landed on these shores in 1699, Biloxi’s progress has been and continues to be remarkable. The land and the waterfront have provided opportunities for many developing and growing this great city.
Biloxi, a tourist destination, something that began in the mid-1800s, more than flourishes today.
In the early 1900s, Biloxi was known as the seafood capital of the world. Restaurants, piers, and boat launches are built today because our seafood industry remains an economic cornerstone.
We welcome more than four million visitors a year to the coast. Last year, the Biloxi Visitors Center saw visitors from not only across the coast and the nation but from around the world. They came from Austria, England, France, Germany, Holland, Vietnam, Sweden, and the Philippines, just to name a few.
Visitors return again and again to Biloxi not only for our hospitality, great seafood, and beaches but also because they experience a city where vision continues to turn into reality.
4,285 building permits were issued last year, an increase of 517 from the previous year. That means our Water & Sewer Department adds new customers each week. All, due to our vision becoming reality.
And anyone who knows me, knows, I have big visions for Biloxi.
The words “it’s finally happening” resonated among the crowd just a few months ago, as the dirt was thrown south of Pass Road to mark the beginning of the Popp’s Ferry Extension.
Like the new Keesler Main Gate on Division Street, this project has been talked about for decades, and now has a green light. Neel-Schaffer provided the design engineering, and other construction services and Necaise Brothers is conducting the work.
The $21 million project began on November 25th and it includes 1.53 miles of a new four-lane road that will connect Popp’s Ferry across Pass Road, across the railroad tracks, and extend to U.S. 90, allowing motorists a direct line of travel.
Under construction now is the foundation for an underpass to run under the new road that will connect the Coliseum parking garage to the west side parking lot.
The extension is expected to be completed at the end of 2026.
Upon completion of the roadway, Popp’s Ferry Road will connect to U.S. 90, a major highway, which is a huge step toward getting it designated as a state road and opening the door for future state and federal funding.
Without that designation, future funding for building a new Popp’s Ferry Bridge will almost be impossible.
As for the 45-year-old draw bridge, a $15 million rehab project has been funded. MDOT has approved Neel-Schaffer for the design engineering for the replacement of the draw span and locks.
If you travel across the bridge, or maybe even just receive the city’s B-Alerts, you know how often the draw malfunctions, continuously causing headaches for motorists.
Through a $12 million grant from the MDOT with a $3 million match from the city, the project will include a mechanical system upgrade and maintenance overhaul of the draw, prolonging the life of the bridge and alleviating most of the draw bridge malfunctions.
Currently, the project is in the design phase but this vision will take some time to become a reality. And we are working hard to make it a reality.
Another outstanding reality sparked by Popp’s Ferry Extension is the opening of the new Rouses Market at the corner of Pass Road and Popp’s Ferry. At 60,000 square feet, it’s the largest of the company’s five markets in Mississippi. By all accounts, it is exceeding expectations. Rouses’ gravity will no doubt be attracting other businesses to invest near that corner and along Pass Road.
We are also working hard to achieve another reality. That is the reopening of the Saenger Theatre, now in a number of weeks not months. About four years ago it was unsafe and near collapse.
It will return as the cultural anchor of the historic downtown district. Biloxi’s Saenger will be one of eighteen left of the nearly one hundred that were built in the early 1900s.
Exterior and interior renovations happened under the watchful eye of the MDAH. You can imagine, every detail examined. The process, lengthy.
We have gone through massive research on the building such as its superstructure and load-bearing elements. Then moved to an enormous exterior renovation project of the flyer tower, HVAC, sealing and repointing the bricks, and updating the front exterior.
Next, we moved inside, repaired areas on the walls that received damage from the water seepage completed some painting, made some electric and hardware upgrades, inventoried and cleaned some of the chairs, and evaluated the stage components.
Now, painting and restoring the decorative plaster surrounding the stage taking place. Hardwood floors throughout the theatre are being restored followed by replacing the carpet.
Work that remains: repairing the chair lighting, more interior painting, fixture repairs, and WI-FI installation.
Significant state of art upgrades to the lighting, audio, video, and stage components are forthcoming. Upgrades that will allow the Saenger to gracefully accommodate not only all of our local performers but also Broadway-like productions never before on the radar.
A climate-controlled space is being completed for the 1970s Steinway Concert grand piano, which has been restored, tuned, and ready to play.
Ground Zero Biloxi has anchored the entertainment revival on Howard Avenue. Next door, the Barq’s building will anchor the residential revival with thirteen 2nd-floor condominiums the will hit the market in April. The 1st floor will be completed with a number of retail shops, restaurants and bars.
Down the street, Keesler Federal Credit Union received naming rights for the stadium last year.
In September, the new name was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and it is now known as the Keesler Federal Park.
Inside the park, the Biloxi Shuckers saw the completion of the Schooner’s Splash Zone and Boardwalk and the expansion of the Shuckers shop.
Attendance at the ballpark increased in 2024 and, in addition to the Biloxi Shuckers running the bases, the stadium was host to a number of high school and college games.
And this year marks the 10th anniversary of having professional baseball in Biloxi.
The massive renovation to the A.J. Holloway Sports Complex crossed the finish line.
The 68-acre site south of Popp’s Ferry and Cedar Lake roads has been a vortex of activity since September 2023 when contractors J.E. Talley Construction began tackling the fields.
The expansive overhaul included the installation of both synthetic turf and Bermuda sod, new subsurface drainage, new topsoil, field stripping, new black vinyl fencing, painting, and paving. One hundred and twenty new parking spaces were also added, all are part of the $5.167 million project.
On March 8, youth baseball and softball opening ceremonies were held at the complex. The reality now is that the city sports leagues and others who rent the facility will now be playing at a top-notch facility.
Over in the Woolmarket, residents will soon have a new pathway to walk along. Contractors with Landmark Contracting, Inc. are installing 1.25 miles of sidewalks on Woolmarket Road from Lorraine Road to Jim Byrd Road and Lorraine Road from Woolmarket Road to Nature’s Trail.
The $998,500 MDOT-funded project began in late October and is expected to be completed by the end of May.
Katrina Infrastructure projects continue to move forward with $314 million in construction has been completed.
In fact, Necaise Brothers Construction is in the final stages of the project on the point in the area known as the St. Michaels Project. We should see that work wrap up in the next month.
As for the infrastructure work along Beach Boulevard in West Biloxi, known as the BEA one, two, and three projects, that work is expected to be completed by the end of the year. We still have two more projects to send out for bid. Those two projects are the Rodenberg Project and the Buena Vista East Project. We hope to have those two projects, the final projects in this infrastructure project, ready to bid by the end of this year or early next year.
All of these visions are made into reality through partnerships as well as the hard-working staff of the City of Biloxi.
We currently have more than six hundred employees who provide the day-to-day services that you expect and deserve.
Our Biloxi Fire and Police Departments, as always, continue to provide exceptional service. We need to keep our Fire and Police rated at the top.
This Administration along with the City Council, in the FY2024 budget, recognized the importance of their dedication to public service and provided significant compensation increases to the departments.
Our firefighters train thousands of hours to enhance fire safety, provide public education, and support the growth of our city.
With Pafford Emergency Medical Service now stationed within the Biloxi Fire Department, the ability to work side by side with Biloxi Firefighters has helped significantly reduce response times on emergency medical calls.
The three new custom-built fire trucks are now in full operation with state-of-the-art upgrades including a ladder truck that can be operated remotely up to 300 feet away. This ensures the safety of firefighters while providing the best service to the community.
This new equipment combined with continual training allows Biloxi to hold the highest fire response rating which keeps insurance rates lower for our citizens.
Keeping Biloxians and visitors to our city safe requires a well-trained and well-equipped Police Department at the ready 24/7.
Everyone recognizes that it is a challenge to be a Police Officer in this day and time, and the Biloxi Police Department is recognized as one of the best in the state.
In 2024, our Police Department saw its share of retirements and resignations, followed by new hiring that provided a small net gain in officers dedicated to protecting the community it serves.
The new police training facility continually provides training to keep officers current with the latest law enforcement procedures and options.
New special events ordinances helped public safety personnel protect the health, safety, and welfare of Biloxi residents and visitors. These ordinances give organizers guidelines to follow when planning one of the numerous special events held in our city.
Last year, the Police Department participated in the planning and coordinating, as well as serving at a number of large and small events throughout the city.
Some of the larger events can nearly double our population. Through strategic planning and extended hours of dedicated service, the Police Department balances public safety with hospitality.
The department continued its Citizen’s Police Academy, designed to give citizens insight into how the police department serves the community. This popular 12-week program wrapped up its 4th session by graduating more than a dozen participants from the program.
All of our first responders are dedicated to serving the community. And, we value and appreciate the sacrifices they make to keep Biloxi a safe place to live, work, and visit.
Biloxi the resort, sees millions of visitors annually and requires our streets and common areas to stay clean and inviting. Public Works employees remain on-call to provide all kinds of services including asphalt repair, mowing rights-of-way, maintenance of drainage ditches, and maintenance of the city’s 23 water wells, 99 lift stations, and over 2,700 fire hydrants.
Crews in Public Works handled over 8,500 work orders in 2024, totaling over $3.5 million last year, and managed 6,200 barricades and delineators ensuring citizen safety for multiple special events each year.
All this was completed with the combined efforts of 89 employees who remain committed to maintaining critical infrastructure to support the needs of Biloxi.
Our citizens and visitors enjoy the numerous parks and recreation facilities Biloxi has to offer. Our Parks & Recreation Department makes sure there is always something happening.
They reach the grassroots of the community by engaging them in special city-sponsored events. Last year, the department managed 13 community events, including parades, special needs events, and holiday dinners, all with record turnouts.
The department maintains the city’s 16 parks, playgrounds, and 20 ballfields.
Parks & Recreation saw the completion of playground and fitness equipment upgrades at Savarro Park, Businessman Park, O’Reilly Park, John Henry Beck Park, and Popp’s Ferry Recreational area which has created an increase in park use.
The department also expanded its partnership with the Biloxi Public School System by providing new opportunities for the city’s youth programs.
Over at the Ports & Harbors Division, the staff continues to maintain the city’s four harbors with nearly 500 slips, seven boat ramps, seven piers, and the fishing bridge on Back Bay.
At the east end of Biloxi, the first phase of the Point Cadet Marina Improvement Project was completed in June which added 29 floating dock slips, with upgraded electrical, slip pump-out stations, and coded gates for extra security.
Those additional slips were a major asset during the Billfish Classic Tournament and the Southern Kingfish Association Nationals Tournament which brought over 125 boats to Point Cadet Marina.
The 542-foot boardwalk at Point Cadet Marina was also upgraded from wood decking to fiberglass decking which endures the elements requiring less maintenance.
Our Community Development Department oversees the tremendous growth underway with a customer-friendly climate that encourages economic growth and development.
The Development Review Committee was created to provide a “one-stop” to address the requirements of the Land Development Ordinance. Having all the advisors in the approval process on the same page has streamlined the review of commercial projects providing a fast approval process.
People want to live in Biloxi and in 2024, Community Development approved 12 new residential subdivision projects and issued 271 building permits for new single-family homes.
More residents attract more business and nearly two dozen new commercial projects were either completed or began construction last year.
Many exciting commercial and residential projects are currently in review and should be ready for permitting this year.
Our Engineering Department is tasked with tying together all this growth presented today with each of our departments.
In 2024, the Engineering managed 40 construction projects valued at just under $118 million. It should be noted that is over and above the Katrina infrastructure projects.
This included pier and harbor repairs and construction, sidewalk improvements, new parking lots, roadway widening, and utility and roadway repair requests, just to name a few.
Engineering also oversaw the design and construction of four new subdivision developments that dedicated right-of-way and utilities to the City of Biloxi.
And, the GIS division of the department continues to create, update, and maintain the digital map of every asset owned by the city. This mapping is used by every department.
To keep the public informed, citizens, and visitors, of the happenings, projects, and events in our city is Public Affairs.
The team works with all departments to ensure marketing material is uniform, that social media sites are informative, and that the timely B-Alerts are, well, timely.
They also continue the production of the city’s newsletter, BNews Monthly. The widely popular publication is delivered to all Biloxi mailboxes allowing citizens to have city information in their hands.
They also gathered the information used in this presentation from all city departments and created the imagery.
Biloxi, our city, is loaded with a vision that becomes reality. We see it along the waterfront, in our parks, in the new development, and in the community support that we are greeted with at the festivals and events happening in our city.
Progress starts with a vision and in Biloxi, we strive to make our visions become reality.
We will keep moving Biloxi forward not only as a place to live, and a tourist destination but also as a place where an idea can become a successful development.
A place everyone wants to call home.
God Bless Biloxi and God Bless all of you.
Closing
Wow! The best ever. It says it all. Please give up for Biloxi’s Public Affairs.
Cecilia Dobbs Walton, her words told the story. John Majure, he flew the drone and took the shots. And, Renny Sherman wove it all together from the technical side. He’s doing it today too.
How about that narration? We did it all without AI, right?
Let me thank you again for being here today and for your interest in what the future holds for this great city.
I look out over the room right now and I see we’ve got it all covered, doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, power companies, restaurants, casinos, and every flavor of business And organization.
Biloxi is poised for even more great things. I feel the enthusiasm here today. And, Without a doubt, working together, we will make Biloxi the best it can be.
What do you think? I might use that in a commercial!!
Biloxi has its own gravity, a gravity that attracts developers to city hall nearly every day. They’re eager to make their mark in a rapidly evolving Biloxi, a Biloxi that promises opportunity and prosperity.
Last thing, do you know what gravity does? It accelerates things.
Biloxi is ready. And, I’m confident that in the next few years, we will accelerate like a Tesla to a level of greatness we could only imagine.
Thank you… thank you… thank you…
God bless you and god bless Biloxi
