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Q:   Why should we restore the lighthouse?

A:    There are three basic reasons to restore the Round Island Lighthouse.

1. The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a major cultural asset cherished by most Pascagoula residents past and present.
2. Federal funding is available to finance the restoration project.

3. The restoration project is the key to financing the development of our waterfront and downtown area into a national historic district.

Q:   Who is paying to restore the lighthouse?

A:   The project is currently financed by a $525,000 grant from federal disaster assistance funds set aside for historic preservation. The remaining costs (approximately $525,000) will be paid by other federal funds such as a Department of Transportation grant, Congressional appropriations or private donations.

Q:   What will this cost Pascagoula taxpayers?

A:   This project has already brought over one half million federal dollars to Pascagoula that would otherwise have been spent on historic preservation in other parts of the country. In total, this project will bring in over one million federal dollars. Any local match requirements will be waived or raised by private donations.

Q:   Did the lighthouse project use FEMA disaster assistance money that would have been spent on homes and/or businesses?

A:  No. This was additional money that was only available for historic preservation.

Q:   How will this project provide financing for waterfront and downtown development?

A:   The lighthouse will be a demonstration project and the anchor piece of an effort to have our entire waterfront and Round Island designated as a National Maritime Historic District. This district would then qualify for U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grants which could fully fund the waterfront and downtown development.

Q:   What is the plan to restore the lighthouse?

A:   The first phase was to recover the lighthouse remains. That step is complete and the recovered historic material is in secure storage. The next phase is to provide a permanent foundation for the base. Acceptable bids have been received for this phase of the project. The Corps of Engineers has issued a permit for the work and it should be completed soon. The concept for a permanent base is to encircle the base with 100 feet of sheet piling, surround it with steel reinforcement and then to pump concrete under the base until it is level and well above sea level. This will provide an erosion-proof permanent foundation for the tower.

The final phase will be to rebuild the tower, re-light the original lens and establish Round Island as a public recreation area.

Q:   How will the non-boating public gain access to the lighthouse and island?

A:   The plan is to develop the island into a public park. This plan would include daily boat shuttles to the island for the non-boating public. Funding for this service would be provided by public and/or private enterprise, DOT grants or Congressional appropriation. Providing public access is one of the requirements to receive DOT grants.

Q:   How will this benefit the people of Pascagoula?

A:   There are three major benefits to the people of Pascagoula.

	Financial benefits New Money - Over one million new federal dollars will come to Pascagoula for the lighthouse and the millions more in waterfront and downtown development. Economic Development - The National Maritime Historic District will bring tourists and 20-40 percent tax credits for investments in historic district properties. Jobs - New business and tourism will create new jobs.
	Cultural Preserve Heritage - We save many of our defining cultural and historical assets. Renew City - We beautify and restore our historic waterfront and downtown. Build Pride - We increase our community pride and sense of place.
	Perceptual Local Image - Surrounding communities will view our city as a place that turns disaster into triumph. They will see a community that gets things done and  respects its heritage. State Image - We will become a must see location for Mississippians traveling to the coast. State economic development and historic preservation officials will learn that we are good civic partners and will be more likely to send other similar projects our way. National Image - We would have national historical standing and could become a national tourist destination that offers a unique historical and cultural experience. We would be perceived as a good place to live and work, thereby enhancing our ability to attract other good businesses to our city.

Q:   Why should any money be spent on the lighthouse?

A:   A vast majority of the citizens of Pascagoula want to see the lighthouse rebuilt. The federal funds to rebuild it will go somewhere else if we don't use them. The expenditure of these funds will generate short and long term benefits for the City.

Q:   What public entities are supporting the lighthouse restoration?

A:

U. S. Senator Trent Lott
U.S. Congressman Gene Taylor
Miss. Department of Archives and History
Federal Emergency Management Agency
City of Pascagoula
Round Island Lighthouse Preservation Society
Cobb Institute of Archaeology - Miss. State University

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