During a virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 19, Kosciusko Main Street received the Creative Fundraising Award for the Kosy Lights effort.
Kosy Lights raised funds to hang Christmas lights throughout the courthouse square, in large part through t-shirt sales. The effort also garnered significant volunteer support and both financial and supply donations.
“Kosy Lights is a new organization that was started in 2019 by Pati Edwards to bring more Chirstmas lights to the downtown Kosciusko Square,” wrote Kosciusko-Attala Partnership Director Darren Milner in nominating the program. “The fundraiser that helped make this happen was selling Christmas t-shirts. The design on the shirts was the downtown Kosciusko water tower with Christmas lights wrapped around the legs from top to bottom. Below it was the quote, ‘One Light at a Time.’”
Milner noted that the effort brought more than financial support.
“This simple concept caused a big movement. The community came together and hundreds of shirts were sold, along with many donations, which helped Kosy Lights aise more than $9,000,” he wrote. “Not only did the shirts help raise money, they brought a lot of volunteers to downtown to help hang lights. People also donated supplied needed to hang and store the lights. Plans are to continue this fundraiser to help Kosciusko shine just a little more each year.”
The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) annual awards honor Main Street directors, board members and volunteers and recognize the most outstanding downtown development projects from Main Street communities in Mississippi.
“Mississippi Main Street is excited to celebrate the achievements of our Main Street communities,” said Steven Dick, MMSA board president. “Our local leaders have worked tirelessly to provide economic opportunities, increase quality of life, and preserve what makes our downtowns special.”
In 2019, Mississippi Main Street's Designated Communities generated 185 net new businesses, 62 business expansions to existing businesses, 633 net new jobs, 101 building rehabilitations and 331 downtown residential units. In addition, 178 public improvement projects were completed as well as 36 new construction projects in downtown business districts. More than $148 million was invested by the public and private sectors in 2019, and more than 43,211 volunteer hours were recorded.
Every dollar spent in this organization results in $80 of private investment, the highest return on investment of any economic activity in the state.
Since 1993, MMSA has generated more than $5.5 billion in private and public investment (including more than $1.3 billion in public investment).
MMSA currently has 45 Designated Main Street Community members, four Network members, and eight Associate members.
