Funding awarded for sewage system improvements in Gautier

Governor Tate Reeves was in Gautier today to announce the latest project for Jackson County to use GOMESA funding.

Improving aging infrastructure. That’s one of the goals of Governor Tate Reeves and local Jackson County leaders as they roll out the latest project funded through GOMESA money. Governor Reeves said, “We know that we have a great economic opportunity ahead of us. We’ve got a lot of tourists coming to our state, we’ve got a lot of great people who live here. This is going to be a way for us to continue to improve.”

$2.67 million in funds will go towards improvements to the Gautier-Vancleave Sewer System, helping to upgrade older components with the goal of improving local water quality and lessen the damage to coastal fish and wildlife. “Ensure that we improve water quality along the gulf coast, so that we can continue to improve fishing and oysters and things that are so vitally important to the blue economy, which ultimately is vitally important to Mississippi’s economy.”

State Senator Jeremy England says the GOMESA funding process requires collaboration between many different areas of government. “We get a list from the governor’s office and the governor and the DMR Director, General Spraggins, they’re very good at coming up with some good projects that meet the GOMESA requirements, which are about preservation of our wetlands, preservation of our tidelands, and our ecosystem we have here.”

Gautier Mayor Phil Torjusen hopes this project and others help maintain the quality of living for citizens. “Gautier is known for being like Nature’s Playground. It’s a good quality of life, where you can go out, you can work somewhere, and when you come home, you are kind of in a Nature’s Playground environment, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

Governor Reeves also says this project is the first of many to be announced in the coming days and weeks. “That’s what this is all about is continuing to improve economic opportunity for all Mississippians.”