Hancock County supervisors on July 21 authorized staff to submit grant applications under the MOSTF/MOSDEF programs and discussed candidate projects to include on applications.

The board approved a motion authorizing April Shaiye to submit a MOSTF application and later authorized county staff to submit MOSDEF applications; both motions carried 5-0.

Board members asked staff to include small local projects for consideration. One supervisor requested a modest rehabilitation of the little boat launch on Harbor Drive. Another item raised for possible grant consideration was repair work at Pleasure Street Marina, where a cost estimate for pier work was discussed at about $144,000 and would require a 20% local match, according to a county speaker. The board discussed that the county submits a priority list to the legislature (Jackson) but that final funding decisions are made at the state level.

Ending: The board authorized grant applications and asked staff to include small harbor-related projects on the county's list; no awards or formal project commitments were announced at the July 21 meeting.