PICAYUNE MAIN STREET, INC.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2008

--Was instrumental in forming the Pearl River County Tourism Council, a group dedicated to increasing tourist traffic in Pearl River County?

 --Was also instrumental in forming the Greater Picayune Arts Council- Carolyn Terry, President. The Council meets monthly at the Centraplex and involves all areas of Arts in the Community.

 --Secured a grant to develop and publish a Pearl River County Tear Sheet.  The Tear Sheets are distributed at MS Welcome Centers and does not only provide a map but also provide tourism opportunities for visitors to our state? Check it out there is family activities mapped out for Poplarville and Picayune.

 --Published a new one-handed brochure with a downtown map listing Picayune Main Street, Inc. business members. The membership brochure also lists sponsored events, our mission, the 4-point approach for all Main Street communities, and connection information with City information phone numbers, along with phone numbers of area schools, hospitals, local media, postal and special service information for visitors or new residents.

 The Fourth Annual Egg Drop was named to the “Strange and Unusual Events around the South” magazine? The Annual Egg Drop won Most Creative Fund Raiser in Mississippi. 2008 Egg Drop committee donated 500 eggs to Picayune On Stage to sale for their organization- POS raised $1000.00 from sales of the eggs.   

 --Purchased the supplies and labor to finish the fence around the Shay Locomotive along with new signs identifying the Shay engine. The organization also purchased materials to restore a work over car and a pop car that are now placed behind the Shay with proceeds from the Annual Egg Drop? The Pearl River Valley Railroad Volunteers completed the work on the fence and also restored the cars placed behind the Shay in Shay Park. MS Lynn Gammill donated the 2 restored cars to put on public display with the Shay Engine.

--Purchased twelve barricades for the Picayune Police Department with proceeds from a previous Golf Tournament held at the Millbrook Country Club?

--Purchased eighteen new benches with proceeds from an Annual Turkey Shoots held at the American Legion Post 73.

--Was commissioned by the Mayor and City Council of Picayune to sell Corporate squares and bricks for the Intramodal Transportation Center. The organization sold 55 Corporate Squares and over 250 bricks pavers for the newly remodeled Picayune Depot.

--Purchased twenty new plastic trash barrels with proceeds from the Picayune Street Fair.  These trash barrels are used for events throughout the community.

 --The program was awarded a $500.00 grant at the Tri State Main Street Conference held in Bay St Louis. The funds were used to purchase a PA system that will be used during each Picayune Main Street sponsored events.

 --Hosted the FAM tour along with Picayune Chamber of Commerce when the MS Welcome Center Directors held their annual tours of cities in our state. Local businesses donated items for goody bags to give each visiting directors.

 --Assisted the American Legion Post 73 with a Poker Run and help raise $335.00 for Meals on Wheels.

--Hosted the Annual Christmas Luncheon for City Employees at Ryan’s with 76 in attendance.

 --Applied for a Tourism Restoration Grant through MDA and was awarded $76,928.50 for advertisement over a 2 year period in 2008 and 2009. Debbie Galiano, the Picayune Main Street advertising chair works diligently to see those funds go to a wide viewing range with a 2-hour drive time to keep consumers up to date with Picayune Main Street events. Funds from the grant have also been used to assist the Pearl River County Tourism Council and Picayune On Stage and the Poplarville Blueberry Jubilee and also published the County Tourism Tear Sheets.

 --Received a $1000.00 grant from WalMart to use for downtown beautification projects- Funds were used by the Design Committee chaired by Bob Sargent and co-chaired by Eileen Baker for Fall and Christmas decorations displayed throughout the community not just in the downtown area. The design committee also restrung 40 Christmas balls that were hung in oak trees lining South and North Main during the Christmas Holidays.

 --Funds from 2008 Golf Tournament and Turkey Shoot were used to Purchase 30 Faux wood blinds for the windows in the Train Depot.

--Funds from the two previous mentioned fund raising events also paid to frame photos to display in the depot. Gary Herring – consultant for the Train Depot’s construction, donated these prints.

--2008 Board President, Freida Dobson and Board Member, Ina Legg headed up a campaign to raise funds to purchase 2 bicycles for the Nationally Recognized Picayune Police Department. McDonald & Patch, Rotary Club, American Legion Post 73, Picayune Noon Lions Club, Picayune Greater Area Chamber of Commerce, and Henry Jaume of The Farmer’s Market, VFW Post 11380 Crime Stoppers, Exchange Club and Picayune Main Street, Inc made donations to pay for the bikes.

 --Was awarded a Technical Support grant through MDA and MS Main Street to assist with Downtown Design Projects, Retail Leakage Study, Branding and Marketing studies in 2008. In 2009 the grant will cover website and software guidance.

--Historical Committee, Johnny Lou Ingram, chairman, started a Historical Plaque Program for buildings in the downtown – Plaques will be placed on fronts of buildings and will have historical information about properties

 --Moved our office into the new Train Depot on December 1, 2008. Picayune Main Street, Inc. staff and volunteers are available to assist Amtrak passengers in the morning and evening Monday thru Friday at the depot. Picayune Main Street, Inc.

--Bank Plus donated 2 sets of office furniture and a conference table and 8 chairs to Picayune Main Street, Inc to use in their new office. – Please come by and check out the new office if you have not already. Picayune Main Street, Inc board of directors and staff are very proud of each of our accomplishments.

-- Picayune Main Street, Inc. Manager, Reba Beebe, received the first Charles Beasley Award at the 2008 Annual Awards Banquet for the Mississippi Main Street Managers. This award is given to the Main Street Manager chosen by the MS Main Street Board of Directors who has worked to move their organization forward in downtown revitalization and being active in the community. 

These are some concrete examples of the work the Picayune Main Street Association is doing.  The volunteer-driven Picayune Main Street Association was formed in 1996 to aid historic preservation in the Picayune area while promoting business, social, and community opportunities for the entire area.  The Association has been successful in promoting the downtown area as well as constantly working to find new ideas and concepts, which will continue to enhance Picayune Main Street’s livability.