Our June General Membership Meeting brought together business leaders, elected officials, economic development partners, and regional organizations for a morning focused on one common theme: the Gulf Coast continues to build momentum.
Before the featured panel discussion, members heard updates from organizations across the region that highlighted new investments, major milestones, disaster recovery efforts, workforce initiatives, and economic development projects already shaping South Mississippi’s future.
Regional Updates
Several organizations shared recent announcements demonstrating the breadth of activity taking place across the Coast.
General Joe Spraggins reported another successful Governor’s Cup Billfishing Tournament, which raised approximately $150,000-$160,000 for the Mississippi Seafood Marketing Foundation while continuing to promote Mississippi seafood and the state’s commercial fishing industry.
NASA Stennis Space Center announced new leadership with the appointment of Christine Powell as Center Director, making her the first South Mississippi native to lead the facility. Members also received an update on NASA’s Artemis III mission as preparations continue for humanity’s return to the moon.
Mississippi State University shared progress on the Mississippi Cyber & Technology Center under construction at Keesler Air Force Base. The 105,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed next spring and will provide significant space for industry partners while serving as the foundation for a future sovereign innovation campus.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College celebrated another major achievement after being named one of the nation’s Top 10 community colleges in the running for the prestigious Aspen Prize, often referred to as the “Heisman Trophy” of community colleges. The college also announced a new partnership with The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast that will allow freshmen to complete their first year of coursework through MGCCC beginning this fall.
United Way of South Mississippi provided an update on disaster recovery efforts following recent flooding, announcing that Samaritan’s Purse is assisting uninsured and underinsured homeowners with cleanup and debris removal throughout Harrison and Stone counties.
The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport shared several infrastructure improvements currently underway, including construction of a secondary runway extension and development of a new aircraft hangar to support future aerospace growth. Members were also reminded of expanded nonstop summer flight options available from Gulfport.
Together, the updates reinforced the pace of investment and collaboration occurring throughout South Mississippi.
A Mid-Year Look at GCBC’s Impact
Before introducing the panel discussion, GCBC President & CEO Jamie Miller reflected on the organization’s progress during the first half of 2026. He highlighted this year’s membership meetings, the continued growth of StartUP Gulf Coast and Mission 3, the launch of the Executive Leadership Academy focused on artificial intelligence, and the Masters Leadership Class’ “Plan of Plans” initiative to better align regional priorities.
Coastal Mississippi’s Ports: Powering Economic Growth
The meeting’s featured panel brought together executive leadership from the Port of Gulfport, Port Pascagoula, and Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission for a discussion on how Mississippi’s ports continue to drive economic growth across the region.
Panelists included:
- Jon Nass, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Gulfport
- Allen Moeller, Deputy Director, Port Pascagoula
- Jeff Clemons, Deputy Director, Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission
While each port serves a unique role, all three emphasized the same message: strategic investments in maritime infrastructure today are creating long-term opportunities for jobs, industry, and economic competitiveness.
Port of Gulfport
Jon Nass highlighted the Port of Gulfport’s position as Mississippi’s only container port and one of the nation’s 18 Strategic Seaports supporting military operations.
The port handles a diverse mix of cargo, including containers, breakbulk, bulk commodities, military equipment, and emerging blue economy industries. It also partners with organizations such as NOAA, the University of Southern Mississippi, and companies developing autonomous maritime technologies.
Nass also shared one of the port’s most significant recent milestones: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved the Chief’s Report supporting the Port of Gulfport’s channel deepening project from 36 feet to 46 feet.
The deeper channel will allow Gulfport to accommodate larger vessels and remain competitive as global shipping continues to evolve toward larger ships and expanded nearshoring opportunities throughout Central and South America.
According to the port’s most recent economic impact study, Port of Gulfport generates approximately $3.8 billion in annual economic impact while supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs across the region.
Port Pascagoula
Allen Moeller described Port Pascagoula as one of the nation’s most industrialized ports, serving not only as a public cargo port but also as Jackson County’s economic development authority.
Beyond supporting public cargo operations, the port oversees industrial parks, manages critical infrastructure, supports major employers such as Ingalls Shipbuilding and Chevron, and works closely with industries throughout the county to recruit new investment.
Recent opportunities include redevelopment of former industrial sites, expansion of military operations on Singing River Island, and new partnerships designed to attract additional maritime business to the region.
According to a 2024 economic impact study, Port Pascagoula supports approximately 30,000 jobs, nearly $2 billion in personal income, and more than $125 million in local tax revenue while contributing more than $200 million annually in state tax revenue.
Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission
Jeff Clemons explained how Port Bienville serves as the backbone of Hancock County’s industrial park by supporting manufacturing and industrial tenants through barge transportation, rail operations, aviation assets, and economic development efforts.
Although not a deepwater port, Port Bienville moves nearly one million tons of cargo annually while supporting more than 800 direct jobs within the industrial park. The commission also operates Stennis International Airport and continues expanding intermodal transportation capabilities to better connect manufacturers with national markets.
Looking ahead, Clemons emphasized the importance of continued investments in rail, road, and port infrastructure to support future manufacturing growth both within Hancock County and across Mississippi.
Investing in the Coast’s Competitive Future
Throughout the discussion, one theme remained consistent: transportation infrastructure is economic development.
Whether expanding shipping channels, modernizing port facilities, building industrial sites, strengthening rail connections, or improving logistics networks, each investment creates new opportunities for business growth, workforce development, and private investment.
The conversation also reinforced the importance of regional collaboration. While each port serves different industries and communities, their leaders emphasized working together to position Coastal Mississippi as a competitive gateway for manufacturing, trade, defense, and logistics.
As the Gulf Coast Business Council continues its work identifying regional priorities and strengthening economic alignment across South Mississippi, the region’s ports remain essential assets driving both today’s economy and tomorrow’s opportunities.
