Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich will be asking the Biloxi City Council on Tuesday to approve three key measures, including a pilot program to help create downtown residents and a measure that would ask the state Legislature to protect local governments across the state from sales tax revenue lost to internet sales.
The mayor also will be asking the City Council to create a coding academy, similar to successful programs in Water Valley and Jackson, that after one year would create a class of 15 to 20 high school graduates eligible for private-sector jobs that pay at least $50,000 a year.
In total, the mayor is asking the council to use the city’s existing Economic Development Security fund, money set aside from the city’s initial BP settlement, a total of $180,000 for the coding academy, incentive to create 20 downtown housing units using a $25,000 grant per unit, $25,000 downtown façade program, and $350,000 to help with planning for Biloxi’s waterfront at Point Cadet.
See the City Council agenda and supporting documents
