It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial hardship nationwide, and the City of Gulfport wants to help circulate money within its community during this upcoming holiday season.
Gulfport allocated $410,000 from its American Rescue Plan Act budget for the “Rebound” program, which is designed to redistribute the funds back into the community. Each resident will receive a pair of one-time vouchers worth $25 each, on which they can spend on any goods or service at participating businesses. The businesses will then get reimbursed from the City of Gulfport.
But there is a catch. Any household that owes money on any of their utilities will get $50 of credit towards their debt instead. All utility liens must be paid in full prior to participation in the Rebound program.
Gulfport Mayor Sam Henderson says “this is probably something that’s not going to come around again any time soon,” as he and the rest of the city government urge local businesses to participate. If you’re a Gulfport business owner who wishes to participate in this program, the deadline to apply is Wednesday, Nov. 24, and the application can be found via mygulfport.us.
To be eligible for participation in the Rebound program as a resident, you have to sign and confirm on the back of the voucher that you’ve either faced economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, or have spent a minimum of $50 on COVID-related supplies—and we’re sure you’ll all bought enough soap and sanitizer to quality.
Vouchers will be issued on or before Dec.10, 2021 and will expire Jan. 10, 2022.
Some participating businesses include: Habana Cafe, Gulfport Casino Ballroom, Isabelle's Historic Peninsula Inn, Red Hot Tiki, Reef Dog Gifts and Grooming, Stella's Sundries, The Red Elephant Massage, O'Maddy's, Inc., Gulfport Nutrition and Gulf Coast Seafood. The full list of Rebound businesses will be provided by the City of Gulfport on or before Dec. 10.
Residents looking for information on their qualifications or voucher can visit the City of Gulfport website.
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This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 2021.