WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today announced a $2,637,500 federal grant for Moss Point School District to help repair hurricane damage to three schools in the Moss Point School District.

The grant funding will support repairs to Moss Point Upper Elementary School (Escatawpa) and Moss Point Kindergarten School (West), as well as Moss Point High School.   The funding derives from the Gulf Coast Recovery Program that provides funds for the U.S. Department of Education to improve education in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, and Gustav.  The Department of Education expects the grant to aid 1,850 students and staff.

“This grant will provide Mississippi school children with state-of-the-art learning environments,” said Wicker.  “Mississippians remain committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast, and these grants help our communities reach that goal.”

“The Moss Point School District has dedicated itself to improving its educational facilities since Hurricane Katrina.  This infusion of federal funding continues support for that effort,” said Cochran, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the subcommittee that funds federal education programs.

In addition to renovating and repairing three Moss Point schools, the grant also provides funds for professional development to improve literacy skills.

Congress appropriated $12 million through the Gulf Coast Recovery Program to award competitive grants to local education authorities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas that were designated eligible by FEMA.

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