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MMSA looking to future growth: organization adds new membership options.

Article Excerpt
On Feb. 25, the Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) designated the City of Moss Point as a Mississippi Main Street Member Community. It is the seventh Coast community to join the Main Street program.

However, MMSA is hoping its number of communities will take off in 2009 as the organization unveiled new membership levels last December. MMSA executive director Bob Wilson said the retooling is aimed at giving smaller communities an opportunity to participate in the association's program. This is especially important considering the economy.

"Communities with a population of less than 5,000 people often do not have the resources to meet the program's requirements," Wilson said. "Communities must attend workshops, go through the selection process, hire a manager. It is a long and somewhat expensive process."

Wilson added that the economic woes have made it even more difficult for communities to meet the program's requirements. Most communities' efforts are supported by the city government and local merchants. With sales tax collections dwindling, local...

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