WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Congressman Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., today reported that the City of Gulfport has been awarded a $2.0 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for ongoing infrastructure improvements.

“This project highlights how important it is to provide reliable water service to Gulfport residents, while strengthening the community to withstand future storms,” Wicker said. “These investments are critical to the long-term success of the city and its ability to continue growing.”

“Gulfport is working systematically on water and wastewater system repairs and replacement following Hurricane Katrina. This FEMA grant is intended to help make the city’s water and wastewater services stronger and more reliable,” Cochran said.

“Our communities on the Gulf Coast have shown great resilience in the years following hurricane Katrina, and it’s imperative that we continue to support their ongoing recovery efforts. This grant will allow the City of Gulfport to have a sustainable water and wastewater management system thus improving the quality of life for coast residents,” Palazzo said.

The FEMA Public Assistance grant to Gulfport will support water and wastewater improvements in the city. The $2,023,299 grant is awarded under the federal disaster declaration issued after Hurricane Katrina. No state or local matching funds are required with this award.

FEMA Public Assistance grants provide supplemental disaster assistance to state, local and tribal governments and some nonprofit organizations for debris removal and emergency protective measures. These grants can also fund the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly-owned facilities.

In May, FEMA awarded the City of Biloxi an $8.9 million grant for ongoing work to purchase easements to replace infrastructure damaged during Hurricane Katrina and subsequent storms.