Foundation for the Mid South (Grants/Ocean Springs, MS)

FROM THE WEBSITE:

A BATTERED REGION MOVES FORWARD - GRANTS FOR OCEAN SPRINGS, MS AVAILABLE NOW:

The city of Ocean Springs, Mississippi was one of the many communities along the Gulf Coast that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Due to the storm surge and high winds, thousands of homes were lost or severely damaged, most of which were not covered by flood insurance. The community also lost many jobs. Many of the things that make Ocean Springs so unique were damaged or destroyed - including beautiful beaches and parks, arts and culture, recreation facilities, and historic neighborhoods.

However, Ocean Springs was spared the wholesale devastation of some of its sister cities. Schools, public safety facilities and the downtown-shopping district were left salvageable or mostly intact. The city has water, sewer, electricity, and basic services. Ocean Springs is ready to recover and is poised to be an anchor for the rest of the Coast as it rebuilds.

To that end, the Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund, an Advised Fund, was established with the Foundation for the Mid South. The fund has two primary purposes:

Humanitarian assistance to individuals.
A portion of the funds raised will be distributed to individuals to help rebuild their homes and lives. A committee of FMS employees and volunteers will review applications and make the grant awards.
Rebuilding public infrastructure and key institutions.

A portion of the funds raised will be utilized to help rebuild neighborhoods and town centers, recruit businesses, and invest in parks, green space, arts and culture, childcare, health and social services. In order for individuals to recover and thrive, there must be homes, businesses, services and amenities for them to depend upon.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Applications are currently being accepted. Download both the Grant Cover Sheet and the Grant Guidelines and follow the directions to apply for a grant from the Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund:

http://www.fndmidsouth.org/Rebuild_OS_Fund.htm

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MISSION (FROM THE WESBITE:

The Foundation for the Mid South is a regional development foundation that brings people together, strengthens communities, and multiplies resources. By working with people with a wide range of resources, skills, and talents, the Foundation for the Mid South strives to nurture families and children, improve schools, and build the economy for all people in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

The three states of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi continue to rank at the bottom in measures of opportunity and quality of life. The people and partners of the Foundation understand the need to build the nonprofit sector in our region where poverty is the highest.

The Foundation for the Mid South is the only organization serving the Mid South that provides the leadership and the resources to achieve this vision. Over the past ten years, the total impact of the Foundation's programs is estimated at $150 million in new resources for the region.\

The Foundation for the Mid South works to build the communities resources and leadership of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi through change strategies based on regional cooperation. It does so by using private philanthropic resources to fund, develop, and promote programs in our current areas of interest including education, economic development, and families and children.

In each of these areas, the Foundation for the Mid South makes grants, hosts training sessions and seminars, provides technical assistance, and brings people and organizations together to form networks, collaborations, and partnerships throughout the region.