Senate Bill 2327

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (MDA) TO APPLY FOR AND DRAW DOWN AVAILABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CORONAVIRUS FUNDS AND UTILIZE SAID FUNDS TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO DISADVANTAGED, LOW-MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE TO REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS UNDER FEDERAL GUIDELINES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The Community Development Division of the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is hereby authorized and directed to apply for, transfer and deposit Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Funds (CDBG-CV-PPR) available to the State of Mississippi in an amount not less than Thirty-eight Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($38,700,000.00) and administer such funds to provide grants to disadvantaged, low-moderate income communities for technical assistance, loans, and other financial assistance to establish, stabilize and expand microenterprises in order to revitalize communities and local economies affected by coronavirus or to prepare for and prevent future outbreaks. Grantees may use CDBG-CV-PPR funds for pandemic recovery if each assisted activity prepares, prevents and responds to coronavirus. Eligible activities include: (a) assistance to business, including provision of assistance to private, for-profit entities when appropriate to carry out an economic development project; (b) public services, including provision of new or increased public services or emergency subsistence payments; (c) housing, including rehabilitation and reconstruction of privately owned properties; (d) buildings and improvements, including acquisition, construction, reconstruction or installation of public works, facilities and site or other improvements; and (e) planning, capacity building and technical assistance. Eligible expenditures under this act shall be certified by the federal HUD agency.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.