The City of Laurel has received a grant from the state for its Retirement Program.
Wanda Benson with the city’s public relations office announced Thursday that the City of Laurel Hometown Retirement has been awarded the Hometown Mississippi Retirement Tourism Grant from the Mississippi Development Authority.
“The grant will be used for enriching tourism development through the Hometown Retirement by advertising the activities of the City of Laurel Retirement Program,” Benson said in a written statement. “Retirement Coordinator Lula Cooley was very instrumental in securing these much needed grants.”
Benson said in order to secure a grant, the designated sponsors had to be certified Hometown Retirement community and have a primary objective of promoting Mississippi communities to out-of-state markets for promoting a state certified Hometown Mississippi Retirement community.
Officials said the state’s selection process was handled by a three-member committee affiliated with the Mississippi Tourism Council and the Mississippi Economic Development Authority.
The committee meets twice a year to review projects and each applicant is judged objectively and solely on the merits of the project, according to officials.
“The City of Laurel is grateful to the Mississippi Development Authority and Hometown Retirement Coordinator Lula Cooley for these grants,” Benson said, adding that the city will receive a total of $2,761 in grant funds.
Cooley, who is Laurel’s planning and retirement director, said the events, which are for seniors 50 years of age and over, are free. She said they are designed to be a recreational outlet to allow seniors to “meet people and have a nice time.”
The city has hosted several events for seniors this year.
Since Laurel is one of the state’s certified retirement communities, it is required to have at least three major events a year.
The city conducted a tea in June, which allowed it to start developing a database of the seniors in the area. Then, in August, Cooley planned a seniors prom.
Today, the city’s Hometown Retirement Program will host a Retiree and Senior Masquerade Christmas Ball from 3 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Cameron Center on North 10th Avenue.
Also as a part of the city’s retirement program, Cooley has recruited a group of local people called “ambassadors” who have been working with her to make the senior events special.
Cooley said the new grant will allow the city to do more with the retirement program.
Anyone needing more information about the city’s retirement program can call Cooley at (601) 428-6142.
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