It was the final hurdle for the Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant in Biloxi, and on Thursday the Gaming Commission unanimously approved the plans for the $51 million project.

Jimmy Buffett was in Biloxi and attended the meeting:

“I obviously am very pleased to be back here and be part of this,” Buffett told the Gaming Commission and a room full of people, including several local casino general managers.

Buffett said he asked to ride down U.S. 90 along the beach on his way to the meeting to see how the area has recovered from Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf oil spill.

“No’s not a good answer for me,” he said, He developed a new partnership with local casino veteran Tom Brosig and other developers.

“Now we’re on the Back Bay,” he said, “and I like it.”

In the first phase of the casino off Fifth Street in East Biloxi will be a small casino, a Margaritaville restaurant and lounge, a store, an events center and a full-service marina, said John Cohlan, chief executive officer of Margaritaville Holdings. He said the cost is $50 million and the resort will create 650 permanent jobs.

Phase II will add 20,000 square feet to the casino, create a Gulf Coast museum, highlighting local musicians and history, and enhance the marina at an estimated cost of $35 million.

Gaming Commissioner John Hairston said the small size of the casino proposed in Phase I won’t create any additional benefit to the local market, but the Margaritaville brand will bring more visitors and jobs to Biloxi.

“I have a great deal of professional and personal interest in growing the economy of the Coast,” he said.
“We’re ready to start shoveling,” Buffett said,

The Florida resolution honoring Jimmy Buffett we told you about yesterday was voted on and passed today. That officially makes Saturday, April 16th “Jimmy Buffett Day” in the state of Florida!

And appropriately the Welcome to Fin Land Tour kicks off that night in Tampa.

Congrats Jimmy on this honor!

In 1969, Jimmy Buffett graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg with a bachelor’s degree in History.

Next Friday Buffett’s alma mater will have “Parrothead Night at the Pete” for the Golden Eagles’ baseball game against the University of New Orleans.

The USM team will wear Caribbean-themed jerseys, which will be sent to Buffett to sign, and they will be auctioned off. Proceeds go to USM’s Dugout Club and to the Mary Loraine Peets Buffett Scholarship, in honor of USM alumnus Jimmy Buffett’s mother.

Read more about the night here.

Radio Margaritaville has brought to attention a Florida congressman’s efforts to honor Jimmy Buffett:

Rep. Rick Kriseman, a 3rd term Democrat from Florida 53rd District has introduced Florida House of Representatives HR 9063, A resolution recognizing April 16, 2011, as “Jimmy Buffett Day” in Florida. First reading was on Mon. 4/4, and is pending a vote.

You can read the full text of HR 9063 here. Below is a portion of the resolution:

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Florida:

That April 16, 2011, is recognized as “Jimmy Buffett Day” in Florida in appreciation of his charitable efforts, support of the environment, and positive economic impact in the state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be 54 presented to Jimmy Buffett as a tangible token of the sentiments expressed herein.

The resolution mentions many of Buffett’s charitable endeavors, including the Save the Manatees Club, benefit concerts for hurricane victims and the Gulf Coast, plus his business contributions to the state, including employing 200 people at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel and his mark on Key West.

Rep. Kriseman proved his parrothead chops at a 2010 campaign fundraiser where he sang “The Great Filling State Holdup:

Margaritaville.com has posted another video from Jimmy’s StageIt demo during SXSW. This one is Buffett performing “Chanson Pour Les Petits Enfants.” Before singing, Buffett mentions that he’ll be rehearsing for the tour in Austin again this year.