LONG BEACH, Miss. (WXXV) \u2014 Thursday night\u2019s Chamber After Five event at Coastal Daquiri was highlighted by a major announcement for the city of Long Beach.<\/p>\n
The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce shared that it is giving out $40 thousand in small business this grants this year after raising the funds at its Taste of Long Beach event back in September 2025. This doubles the $20 thousand in grants given out this time last year.<\/p>\n
Not only is this big news for local businesses within Long Beach, it also shows continued growth and support for communities all along the Mississippi Coast. That support was evident through the roughly 250 Coast residents who made sure to stop by Coastal Daquiri for the big announcement.<\/p>\n
Several community leaders reflected on the large turnout for the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Long Beach Chamber is a division of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber, and what makes tonight so special at Chamber After Five is, yes, we are here in Long Beach celebrating at Coastal Daquiri, but it\u2019s really an opportunity to bring all of the Mississippi Gulf Coast here,\u201d Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Director Anna Claire Perronne said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is incredible,\u201d Pass Christian Alderman Kirk Kimball added. \u201cBringing the whole Coast together at one venue space and the networking that is going on tonight is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Chamber of Commerce does so much for this city and to help it grow in the right direction that we want it to grow,\u201d Long Beach Mayor Tim Pierce said. \u201cWith this many people coming down here to visit and really seeing what Long Beach is all about really helps us out to grow in the future and be a better city.\u201d<\/p>\n