A plan to complete the East Biloxi Loop extension road will be reviewed and put to a vote by the Biloxi City Council Tuesday October 6. This access road is critical for the construction of the city’s ninth and newest gulf shoreline resort casino, Biloxi Pointe Resort Casino.

In 2012 the Mississippi Gaming Commission gave businessman Chris Ferrara site approval to develop a destination casino resort on the 37-acre pet-food plant he purchased from Heinz after the factory closed in 2000. The factory site falls about a mile short of Biloxi’s shoreline development access road, and the gambling venue could not be built without the roadway being completed.

The city went to the Mississippi Development Authority and requested a $5.6 million roadway grant. The application was approved with the caveat that the new development must be valued at least $70 million and completed within five years.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Biloxi Mayor Andrew Gilich will present the project package. Completion of the loop is estimated at about $22 million and Ferrara will contribute $7 million while the city contributes another $9 million. The development will include a 48,000 square foot casino, 497-room hotel, 6 restaurants, meeting and exhibition space, retail, entertainment venues, and parking, with the build-out estimated at $260 million.

Ferrara projects that the Biloxi Pointe Resort Casino complex will create 2,000 jobs and generate $4 million in annual tax revenue. The city has granted the development a 7-year tax abatement, but require school taxes to be paid.

Once the East Biloxi Loop access road is completed, construction can begin immediately.