Soria City Commercial Revitalization Project

Client
Mississippi Center for Justice
Faculty
Kate Collignon and Kei Hayashi
Team
Shira Gidding, Jennifer Lozano, Christopher Narducci, Andrea Perkins

The Capstone team partnered with the Mississippi Center for Justice, a nonprofit, public interest law firm, in an effort to strengthen the commercial sector of Soria City, a small African American neighborhood of Gulfport, Mississippi that continues to struggle from the adverse impacts of Hurricane Katrina. The team provided essential tools for two aspiring entrepreneurs whose start-ups are expected to boost the neighborhood's overall vitality. Tools included a business plan, a market analysis, assistance with Minority/Women Business Enterprise certification, and a comprehensive guide of loan resources for each entrepreneur. For the broader community, the Capstone team coordinated with local business support organizations to plan a community workshop and networking event. The team also conducted a public survey and community meeting to identify local needs, and produced a community action guide to address broader development issues such as accessibility, street conditions, and zoning.