EDF Announces $3.2 Million in Secured Funding for Downtown Revitalization Project

April 13, 2026

The Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation (EDF) has announced $3.2 million in secured funding for the Aven Building Revitalization Project, a transformative mixed-use redevelopment initiative that will convert a historic 20,000-square-foot commercial building in the heart of downtown Greenwood into a regional economic development hub. The announcement marks a significant milestone in what will be a multi-million dollar investment in downtown Greenwood and the broader Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll region.

The EDF will acquire the Aven Building from ArtPlace Mississippi, a local arts education nonprofit, which has agreed to sell the property to support the project’s community-centered vision. The building, constructed in the 1950s by the Whittington Family and designed in the International style by architect Robert J. Moor, will undergo a complete historic renovation that preserves its architectural character while equipping it for 21st-century economic development activity. Additional funding to complete the full scope of the project will be pursued through Federal and State Historic Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, and other grant and financing sources.

The revitalized Aven Building will serve as an anchor for the region’s economic future. The ground floor will house the EDF’s regional offices alongside workforce training facilities, and additional office space for civic and nonprofit organizations. A small retail space will activate the building’s street presence and contribute to the vitality of downtown Greenwood. On the upper floor, up to eight residential units will provide comfortable accommodations for corporate workers seeking short-term housing, filling a market gap.

The mixed-use nature of the project is central to its purpose. By combining economic development offices, workforce and entrepreneurship support, civic space, retail, and lodging under one roof, the Aven Building will create a dynamic environment where resources, relationships, and opportunity converge.

“This project is about more than a building,” said EDF Executive Director Thomas Gregory. “The Aven Building Revitalization Project is an investment in the belief that Greenwood and the surrounding region have everything it takes to compete and to thrive. We are deeply grateful for the partners and public servants who made this possible, and we are excited to create a place where businesses grow, workers are trained, and our communities are strengthened. Downtown Greenwood deserves a landmark that showcases its economic potential, and that is exactly what we intend to build.”

Beyond its direct economic programming, the EDF envisions the building as a catalyst for broader revitalization in downtown Greenwood. The rehabilitation of a prominent historic structure in the downtown core signals confidence in the city’s future and is expected to attract complementary investment and development activity.

The $3.2 million in funding secured to date reflects strong support from federal, state, and local sources. The EDF was awarded a $500,000 Mississippi Main Street Revitalization Grant (MMSRG), funded by the Mississippi Legislature through the Mississippi Development Authority in partnership with the Mississippi Main Street Association. The EDF has committed $125,000 in local matching funds in support of the MMSRG. The Mississippi Legislature further demonstrated its commitment to the project by appropriating an additional $600,000 during the 2026 legislative session. At the federal level, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith secured $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending funds for the project, providing the single largest component of the funding secured to date.

The EDF extends its sincere gratitude to Senator Hyde-Smith for her exceptional advocacy on behalf of the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll region, and to the Mississippi legislative delegation whose leadership was instrumental in securing state support: Senator Lydia Chassaniol, Senator Justin Pope, Representative Karl Oliver, and Representative Timaka James-Jones. The EDF also thanks the Mississippi Main Street Association for its continued partnership and commitment to revitalizing Mississippi’s historic downtowns.