HATTIESBURG — The voice booming from the public address microphone welcomes fans to the “Southern Miss Volleyball Wellness Center” – a subtle nod to the true purpose of this vaguely named building, which was primarily funded by money earmarked for Mississippi's most vulnerable people.
The Wellness Center, as it is officially called, is a product of one of the largest public corruption scandals in Mississippi history, which, according to forensic auditors, misspent at least $77 million in federal funds.
With a reported cost of $7 million, the Wellness Center project received at least $5 million from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.