WDAM-TV Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg secures $1M in federal funding for Edward Street project
By Delaney Dukes
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - After weeks of back-and-forth in Washington, Congress passed a spending package.
Among the bills making up that package are funds headed to Hattiesburg.
Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker said the city has secured $1 million in federal funding for the Edward Street Project, thanks to work by Congressman Mike Ezell and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith’s offices.
Edward Street is a major connection between William Carey University, South Hattiesburg and Downtown.
The project includes drainage improvements, new asphalt, landscaped medians, expanded sidewalks and lighting.
“We want every neighborhood to see progress,” said Barker. “If part of Hattiesburg is developing and the other part is not, then we’re not fully doing the job. And so that’s why you’ve seen such an investment in infrastructure and public safety facilities in that area of the city, because we think that infrastructure will lead to development.
“Now, this is a $9 million project, so every bit that you can get from state and federal sources helps. So between this and our NPO funds of $2 million and the city providing $6 million local funds, we have the funding over this year to go forward with that project.”
Barker said the Edwards Street project will go to bid later this year.