Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Fund; increase grant amount that may be awarded by MDA.

SB 2857 increases the maximum grant amount that the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) can award to small municipalities (populations ≤10,000) and limited population counties (populations ≤30,000) from the Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Fund. The bill amends Section 57-1-18 to raise the current $1 million per grant cap, though the exact new amount is not specified in the text. This change directly affects qualifying local governments seeking funding for infrastructure projects like roads, utilities, or property improvements. The MDA will administer the program, requiring applications detailing project costs and needs, with annual reports to state leadership. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, following gubernatorial approval in March 2025.