Blog/News

Halfway Through 2026: Here’s What We’ve Accomplished

See what GCBC accomplished during the first half of 2026, from StartUp Gulf Coast and Mission 3 to AI leadership and regional initiatives.

William Carey University and GCBC Honor Regional Leaders at 2026 Business & Leadership Awards Luncheon

GCBC and William Carey University celebrated outstanding business and community leaders, recognized student scholarship recipients, and presented the inaugural Joseph C. Canizaro Leadership Award.

June Membership Meeting Highlights the Economic Impact of Coastal Mississippi’s Ports

Discover how the Port of Gulfport, Port Pascagoula, and Port Bienville are driving jobs, investment, and economic growth across Coastal Mississippi.

Masters Leadership Class Explores Regional Assets to Inform AI-Powered Plan of Plans

GCBC's Masters Leadership Class explored Gulf Blue, Ocean Aero, Rocket Lab, and other regional assets while developing an AI-powered Plan of Plans for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

2026 State of the Coast Symposium Highlights the Competitiveness of Coastal Mississippi

The Gulf Coast Business Council’s Seventh Annual State of the Coast Symposium brought together regional leaders to discuss innovation, AI, economic competitiveness, entrepreneurship, and the future of Coastal Mississippi.

From the Capitol to the Coast: April Membership Meeting

Key insights from Coast legislators on the 2026 Mississippi legislative session, including major wins, remaining challenges, and what’s next for Gulf Coast growth and competitiveness.

Tourism Takes Center Stage at March Membership Meeting

From $18B in visitor spending to major events, GCBC’s March meeting explored how tourism is shaping economic development in Mississippi.

GCBC and Southern Miss Launch Executive AI Leadership Academy with Inaugural Gulf Coast Cohort

GCBC and Southern Miss launch a nine-month Executive AI Leadership Academy to help Gulf Coast executives lead responsible AI adoption.

February 2026 General Membership Meeting Recap: Mississippi’s Economic Development Scorecard, Coast Readiness, and the Case for Regional Coordination

GCBC’s February 2026 General Membership Meeting featured Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork on record economic development wins, Coast project pipelines, site readiness, energy capacity, and the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund, plus updates on GCBC programs, MSMS, and upcoming events.

Masters Leadership Program Launches 2026 Class Focused on AI and a Regional “Plan of Plans”

The 2026 Masters Leadership Class launches with a focus on AI and a regional “Plan of Plans” to strengthen economic alignment across the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s 12 cities and 3 counties.

A Strong Start To 2026: Regional Priorities & Policy Luncheon

Sold out and full of momentum, GCBC’s Regional Priorities & Policy Luncheon brought together leaders from across Coastal Mississippi to discuss economic development, workforce, infrastructure, and regional collaboration shaping 2026.

2025 Year in Review: A Coast That Thinks Bigger, Together

Gulf Coast Business Council’s 2025 Year in Review highlights key meetings, leadership programs, and major initiatives like Mission 3 and StartUp Gulf Coast shaping Coastal Mississippi’s economic future.

Keep up With the Latest Economic News in Our&nbspRegion

Gulf Coast Business Council Blog