The Gulf Coast Small Business Incubator Capacity Enhancement Project was awarded $691,528 under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE Act) Formula Grant program by the Department of the Treasury. The primary objective of the RESTORE Act program is to provide funding for ecological and economic restoration of the Gulf Coast region through the Direct Component program.
Under this award, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality will support workforce development and job creation in the Gulf Coast region by expanding small business incubator capacity. The University of Southern Mississippi, as sub-awardee, will directly deliver the scope of work, which involves providing additional small business incubator resources to support business development and growth in coastal communities in Mississippi. The project aims to benefit the economy in those areas and is scheduled for completion by June 2025.