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The Hancock Chamber will host a ribbon cutting for the Hancock Resource Center’s new building Thursday, Feb. 20th at 4 p.m. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be immediately followed by Business After Hours, the Chamber’s monthly membership social. Business After Hours will last until 7 p.m.

“We’re so fortunate to have an organization like the Hancock Resource Center in our community,” said Tish Williams, Executive Director of the Hancock Chamber. “This is especially significant to the Chamber as the Hancock Resource Center started as a fund under our 501c3, the Hancock County Community Development Foundation.”

Hancock Resource Center Then & Now

The Hancock Chamber established the Hancock County Community Development Foundation in May of 2006 to act as an umbrella organization for nonprofit causes with a broad community impact. The specific purposes of incorporation are to sponsor and support educational and community programs that stimulate job creation, foster small business growth, workforce development, historic preservation and the arts. 

The most pressing issue in Hancock County at that time was housing, so a fund was established named the Hancock Housing Resources Center. As the projects associated with the fund expanded, it spun out on its own. Today, the Hancock Resource Center offers programs that benefit veterans, youth, and strengthen workforce development to improving housing security. In 2024 alone their work had a $14 million impact on Hancock County.

“The Hancock Resource Center is a success story and a major source of pride for our community,” Williams added. “Rhonda Rhodes and her team are changing lives in Hancock County and inspire us everyday with the work they do.”

Hancock County Community Development Foundation

The Hancock County Community Development Foundation continues to operate as a sister organization to the Hancock Chamber of Commerce with 16 funds covering a variety of causes. Some of their most significant accomplishments include the re-establishment of 42 businesses and creation of 72 jobs through the Job Generation Fund, $78,000 in classroom grants, $80,000 in small business grants through a donation from the Mississippi Power Foundation, $5,000 in trees planted and more. Other area nonprofits that started as funds under the Hancock County Community Development Foundation include The Arts, Hancock County, the Waveland Ground Zero Museum and 100 Men Hall.

Join Us

The ribbon cutting for the Hancock Resource Center will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20th at their new office located at 887 Washington Ave. in Bay St. Louis. Business After Hours will begin immediately following the ceremony and will last until 7 p.m. For more information, please contact the Hancock Chamber of Commerce at 228-467-9048.

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