Mississippi Main Street receives award for planning work in Sumrall

The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) is being recognized for its planning work in the community of Sumrall, Miss.

At its recent annual conference in Biloxi, the Mississippi Chapter of the American Planning Association awarded the Sumrall Downtown Roadmap project with its Best Small Area Project award.

Ben Requet, Chapter President of APA Mississippi, presenting Thomas Gregory, MMSA State Coordinator, with the award for Best Small Area Project – Sumrall Downtown Roadmap.

APA Mississippi’s Chapter Awards recognize the best in planning in Mississippi. The Best Small Area Project award recognizes an outstanding small area plan that advances the art and science of planning for a community, county, or region. The award is given for an area that is smaller than an entire jurisdiction, without regard to population size.

“The Mississippi Main Street Association is honored to receive this award because it recognizes the important role that strategic planning plays in the success of our downtowns,” said Thomas Gregory, MMSA State Coordinator. “The Sumrall Downtown Roadmap provides a strong vision for Sumrall’s historic downtown district and follows the principles of the Main Street Approach.”

The Sumrall Roadmap planning team included Randy Wilson of Community Design Solutions, Chance McDavid of the Mississippi Development Authority, Bethany Byrd of Own Your Hill, Rachael Carter of Mississippi State University Extension, Andy Kalback of Kalback Design Studio, and Thomas Gregory and Jennifer Lay of the Mississippi Main Street Association.