Project Ready is an industrial site program formalized by Mississippi Power’s economic development department in 2008 to attract new industries to Southeast Mississippi.

One of the fastest growing trends in the site location business is the demand for “Project Ready” industrial sites.  Companies move much faster today than in the past when making site location decisions.  These companies want sites ready-to-go and relatively “risk free.”  Harrison County has already passed the qualifying steps to meet this growing demand.

“This important certification puts us one step closer to bringing business into our newest industrial park,” said Larry Barnett, executive director of HCDC.  “With our Project Ready status and Harrison County’s tremendous business amenities, we have a complete package to offer site selectors.  We appreciate the role Mississippi Power has taken as a leader and partner in economic development.”

Certification indicates that the local economic development agency has done all of the pre-work on their site.  They understand ownership issues, engineering issues and any obstacles to development – and they have a plan for addressing them. Plus, they know what it will cost and how long it will take to bring infrastructure to the site.

“Across the country, we’re seeing that certified sites are a proven advantage to lure industry,” said Mississippi Power Economic Development Director Arnie Williams.  “We have seen how certified sites have brought major projects to other communities and the positive impact they have on the regional economy.  We want Harrison County to see its share of this kind of growth.”

Mississippi Power has retained McCallum Sweeney Consulting (MSC), a site selection consulting firm based in Greenville, S. C., and Waggoner Engineering Inc., based in Jackson, Miss.  The MSC team is responsible for providing the site criteria, preparing the request for information and conducting site visits.  In the process, they provide the Harrison County Development Commission with feedback on site strengths and weaknesses, suggestions for site improvements and marketing recommendations.   

Next steps include a coordinated marketing program under the Project Ready brand.

The gathering in October in Bay Minette, Ala., seemed at times like a pep rally as speaker after speaker talked about the tanker contest pitting Boeing against the Northrop Grumman/EADS team. The message was clear: Northrop/EADS – and by virtue of that, Mobile, Ala. – would again win the contest.

The jury, of course, is still out on the $40 billion Air Force tanker contest. In fact, Northrop in early December threatened to pull out of the competition altogether on grounds the requirements are tilted in Boeing’s favor. But no matter how the tanker fight ends, the gathering marked an escalation in the region’s bid to become an aerospace powerhouse.
Call it the mobilization of the Gulf Coast.

The October event was to announce the formation of the Aerospace Alliance, a public/private organization designed to promote a four-state region’s aerospace capabilities. The 501(c)(6) group says it will advocate for policies, programs and specific projects on the local, state and national level to enhance growth of the aerospace sector.

With formation of the Aerospace Alliance, there are now at least five regional initiatives focusing on aerospace in the region. The efforts vary in scope, agenda and method, but share the common theme of telling the Gulf Coast aerospace story.

And that’s good, says George Freeland, executive director of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation. He’s been involved for years in cooperative projects focusing on the aerospace region, and sees the state-level effort as a natural progression.

“Multi-state regionalism has expanded and increased in scope, particularly in the aerospace sector,” said Freeland. “It is extraordinarily important. It demonstrates a continued evolution of the region. It wasn’t all that long ago that South Mississippi wasn’t even connecting its own dots.”

Mississippi efforts
Six counties from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Alliance for Economic Development have been “connecting the dots” through a regional aerospace program for nearly four years now.

In May 2006 the group launched a Web site, Mississippi Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor, which highlights aerospace activities in South Mississippi and the broader Gulf Coast. In the summer of 2010 it will publish the fifth edition of an annual 50-page reference book. They also have sites and books on shipbuilding, advanced materials, marine science and geospatial technologies – and a quarterly sci-tech newsletter.

That they found common ground is remarkable, considering the five sectors do not impact them equally. Though each member of a regional group naturally places a priority on jobs in its own back yard, this group concluded they all benefits in the larger scheme of things.

“Our Gulf Coast Alliance has matured. It’s evolved to a point that it’s intelligent, thoughtful, and pursues meaningful regional cooperation. We have taken it upon ourselves to document and create an inventory and promote the region in a meaningful way. We will continue to do that,” said Freeland.

Since the group’s aerospace Web site was launched, other initiatives have launched. In Mobile there’s the Mobile County Commission’s “Keep Our Tanker” project, notable for mustering regional support for Northrop’s tanker bid. In Northwest Florida there’s the three-county Gulf Coast Aerospace and Defense Coalition, designed to promote Northwest Florida as a location for aerospace companies.

There’s also the Stennis-Michoud Aerospace Corridor Alliance, formed by the office of Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, which is exploring ways to promote Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. There’s also privately run Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor Web site, which highlights aerospace news and data from New Orleans to Northwest Florida.

Freeland doesn’t see the other initiatives as competition, but rather as an indication of the growing understanding that aerospace is important for the region’s future. Creation of the Aerospace Alliance is just another step up the regional ladder from the more local levels.

Getting the word out
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley sees the Aerospace Alliance as a way to tell the South’s aerospace story. In his remarks during the Bay Minette event, Riley alluded to the sometimes negative comments made about the region by Boeing supporters.

“Last year taught us something: While we all know about our long tradition of aerospace excellence and the quality and skill sets of our work force, obviously some parts of the country might not be aware. We are going to educate them,” he said.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour reiterated the publicity aspect, saying the group “will go far in promoting our region for what it is – one of the largest aerospace corridors in the world and a great place for companies in this sector to do business.”

According to its Web site, the Aerospace Alliance’s mission is “to establish the Southeast region as a world-class aerospace and aviation corridor.” It says members share the goal “of promoting the region’s common assets and long-standing tradition of excellence in the aerospace industry to take advantage of opportunities to grow the sector in the region.”

There’s little doubt the South and Gulf Coast are on the radar of the aerospace industry, and have been for quite some time. If there’s any group that isn’t aware, it may be politicians and the general public.

It’s a good bet the formation of the Aerospace Alliance was noted by the Pacific Northwest. Not only has Washington been in a dogfight with Alabama for the tanker project, but it has a broader concern about the South in general. Boeing’s decision to set up a second assembly line for the 787 in South Carolina has caused concern, and this just adds to the grief.

The Aerospace Alliance seems to be a work in progress. At this writing, members are the states of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Florida isn’t a member, but an economic group of 16 counties in the Panhandle, Florida’s Great Northwest, is.

Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office and the chief contact for the Aerospace Alliance, said he hopes that at some point all of Florida will be involved. As he sees it, the group is an umbrella organization interested in aerospace activities in any of the four states. But for now, the focus is on winning the tanker.

“The thing that’s on the front burner is the tanker,” said Wade, adding that the group wants to ensure the tanker competition is fair. “We also recognize that, were we to win, it’s an important cornerstone.”

The project would bring thousands of direct/indirect jobs to the region, and lead to the assembly of Airbus freighters. With the tanker program, the Gulf Coast would be one of the few locations in the world that build large-body aircraft.

But win or lose, Wade said the group will have a life beyond that.

- David Tortorano

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The Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi will soon launch the largest casino expansion on the Mississippi Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina. The 110,000-square-foot project will include a 64,000-square-foot expansion of its facilities and amenities, as well as the renovation of existing areas.

Keith Crosby, general manager of the Palace Casino Resort, said, “Prior to the storm, we were a four-diamond resort. We are bringing back many of the amenities we lost to again provide our guests the complete package. We will also maintain many of our current amenities that have become popular, like our signature golf course, The Preserve; our first-class marina; and our award-winning fine dining restaurant, Mignon’s.”

Upon completion of the new construction, the property will include 38,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 1,000 slot machines and 26 new table games. Also included will be an eight-table poker room and high limit salon. A strong focus is being placed on the improvement of air quality throughout the casino. Non-smoking areas, including the poker room, will be available to guests.

The new 300-seat buffet will feature live cooking stations and a display bakery, where guests can purchase a variety of freshly baked goods. A café and grill will offer 24-hour service with seating for 50 guests. And, a new upscale lounge/sports bar will include a stage for live entertainment. Mignon’s Steaks and Seafood will remain; and its lounge, which was popular before the storm, will return.

Crosby said that upgrades to the hotel will focus on providing guests an intimate, service-based experience. A new front desk, concierge area and VIP check-in will be added. The lobby and atrium areas will also be remodeled. Other added amenities will include a new gift shop, spa and fitness center, business center and meeting facilities.

Cuningham Group, an award-winning international design firm with multiple offices including Biloxi, Las Vegas and Minneapolis, is leading the architecture and interior design work of the expansion. The firm, which designed many of the gaming, nightclub and restaurant environments within the pre-Katrina casino, has over 40 years of experience and has consistently been recognized as a leader in the resort gaming market.

Robert Low, owner of the casino with his wife, Lawana, said, “We are very excited to have this opportunity to further invest in the city of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” He continued, “The key to our success over the past 12 years has never been based on the bricks and mortar, but rather the hard work of our dedicated associates and the high quality of personal service they provide to our guests.”

The estimated date of completion for the expansion is late summer 2011. At that time, additional associates will be added to the current staff of 625.

Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway said, “This project, especially in the current economic climate, shows the confidence and vitality of the Biloxi market. The Palace has been an important part of our community for over 12 years, and this new investment should generate new jobs and revenue for many more years to come.”

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On both ends of Harrison County, Mississippi, retail is sparking new growth and prosperity. D’Iberville, on the eastern side of the county, has welcomed The Promenade shopping complex with local, regional and national retailers. To the far west of the county, the city of Pass Christian recently opened a new 153,000-square-foot Walmart.

The Promenade, situated on 72 acres at the I-10/I-110 interchange, is a 700,000-square-foot development of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. The shopping center opened in October with major anchors including Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Marshalls. The Promenade also offers more than 80,000 square feet of specialty shops, and restaurants including major chains Olive Garden and Red Lobster, intermixed with local and regional eateries.

In the months since The Promenade opened, sales tax revenues in D’Iberville have increased significantly. In February, the city collected $591,315, up from $407,924 in February 2008. In January, the increase was more than $100,000 from the previous year.

The new shopping center is expected to generate annual sales in excess of $185 million and create more than 1,000 new jobs for the area. With the surrounding market population of more than 320,000, 120,000 cars passing the shopping center each day, and more retailers to come including Kohl’s Department Store and Michael’s Arts & Crafts, The Promenade will bring continued growth to the city of D’Iberville.

Across the county, the city of Pass Christian has also embraced the arrival of its new retail facility – a beachfront Walmart Supercenter. The new store, which also opened in October, replaces the Walmart that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and has been redesigned based on the company’s efforts to refresh its stores and improve the customer experience.

The new store employs approximately 300 people, including more than 30 associates who were working at the store prior to Hurricane Katrina and returned to work at the new store.

In addition to the added jobs and a surge in sales tax revenues for the city of Pass Christian, Walmart is bringing ongoing charitable contributions to the community. The Walmart Foundation has presented grants and support to local organizations like the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Boys and Girls Club of the Gulf Coast, the Pass Christian and Long Beach fire and police departments, and area schools.

With the new retail facilities in both of these cities, as well as all that lies between – Long Beach with a $6 million renovation of its downtown retail district, Gulfport with Prime Outlets, Crossroads Shopping Center, a new Best Buy and new Sam’s Club, and Biloxi with Edgewater Mall and Edgewater Village Shopping Center, Harrison County has a lot to offer shoppers, as well retailers and restaurateurs looking to share in the success.

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With grand columns gracing its entrance, an impressive amphitheatre and an artificial turf courtyard, the Pass Christian Center for Excellence resembles a miniature college campus more than the home of an elementary and middle school. But the $32 million complex in Pass Christian, Mississippi is an educational haven for children from six weeks old through eighth grade, and the grandeur of the facility reflects the strength and hard work of the teachers, students and community.

The Pass Christian Center for Excellence houses Pass Christian Middle School, Pass Christian Elementary School, the Boys and Girls Club and a daycare center. Completed for the 2009/2010 school year, the innovative facility was conceptualized following Hurricane Katrina, when school leaders sought out to design a school for the future.

They attended an architectural seminar in Washington, D.C. on Great Schools by Design. A national initiative of the American Architectural Foundation, Great Schools by Design seeks to improve the quality of America’s schools and the communities they serve by promoting collaboration, excellence and innovation in school design. Following the seminar, in June 2006, school and community representatives traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with a team of experts to discuss specific school projects.

Dr. Sue Matheson, superintendent for Pass Christian Schools, enthusiastically says, “Our new campus, the Pass Christian Center for Excellence, is a unique concept that was developed in conjunction with the National School Design Institute in Washington, D.C. We may be the only campus in the U.S. that houses an elementary school, a middle school, a birth through four-year-old daycare center and a boys and girls club on the same property. We are extremely proud of this magnificent facility and look forward to educating our children inside the buildings, in the turf covered courtyard and under the beautiful old oak trees that survived in spite of Hurricanes Camille and Katrina.”

Settled in their new facility, the teachers and students of Pass Christian continue to excel. Pass Christian School District has earned the distinction of being in the top one percent of the 152 school districts in the state’s standardized testing program. In addition, the school district has earned the Department of Education’s highest honor, a star rating, under its new accountability rating system. “The bar has been raised tremendously,” Matheson said.

Dr. Matheson is excited for Pass Christian to continue its journey of excellence. She said, “I believe that this campus symbolizes the strength and resiliency of not only the Pass Christian School District, but the town and community as well. We are proud to be a part of the rebuilding process in our great town. We hope that this new campus will encourage past and future residents to move into our school district and become a part of our great tradition.”

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   When it comes to a list of the most important pillars of the Harrison County economy, it’s hard to top the military. The numbers tell the tale.

   Personnel: more than 17,000;

   Students: 50,400;

   Economic impact: $1.6 billion.

   And those likely are underestimates.

   Harrison County has been a military hotspot for years. It’s home to an Air Force, Navy, National Guard and Coast Guard bases. Every branch of the military, as well as reserves, are represented thanks to joint initiatives. On top of that, Harrison County is affected by military activities in nearby Hancock and Jackson counties. When those numbers are included, the workforce alone increases to at least 20,000, and the impact rises to more than $2 billion.

   The military in Harrison County and the broader South Mississippi region is the proverbial 800-pound gorilla. Keesler Air Force Base alone calculates it’s “extended population,” which includes military and civilian employees, family members, retirees and their family members, at more than 93,000. That’s larger than the combined populations of Hancock and Pearl River counties, and doesn’t include the extended population of the other bases, either in Harrison County or South Mississippi.

   But adding the numbers for all the military operations is tricky at best. Not every military activity compiles numbers the same way, and some – like economic impact – are simply not regularly gathered. Then there’s the question of full-time versus part-time, civilian employees versus contract employees, and “direct” versus “indirect” impact, just to name a few hurdles.

   But Keesler, the largest base in Harrison County, does provide numbers that are instructive and much can be surmised from the numbers. In the most recent economic impact statement from fiscal year 2008, the base said it had 10,848 military/student and civilian personnel with a payroll of $351.5 million. By comparison, over the last four quarters South Mississippi’s 11 casinos had between 10,341 and 11,398 employees and a payroll of $386.5 million.

   Add contracts and the total for Keesler goes to $458.8 million, and include “secondary jobs created” and it climbs to $589 million.

   The indirect impact is much higher and includes jobs and services that exist in part because of the base. Keesler places the civilian jobs created off-base at 3,701 for a total of 14,549 jobs, direct and indirect. Add the 13,191 military retirees within a 50-mile radius and its $210.5 million payroll and the impact of Keesler rises to $1.2 billion.

   But all of that is just Keesler. There are three other bases in Harrison County, and four others in nearby counties. John C. Stennis Space Center’s fiscal year 2008 statement shows the Navy, the largest tenant at Stennis, had a $195 million impact in a 50-mile radius. The payroll for just the 790 workers at the Naval Oceanographic Office is $84 million, according to officials.

   In short, while nailing down the precise numbers is difficult, the numbers are clearly substantial. And based on information provided for this report, the chances seem pretty good that the figures will go up. Many of the facilities and operations anticipate growth.

   While the numbers of workers, payroll, operating budgets and impact are all well and good, they show only a slice of what the military means to Harrison County. There’s a significance in the military presence that goes well beyond the dollars.

   The military is interwoven in the fabric of Harrison County society. Flag down a resident and the changes are almost 1 in 5 that he or she will be a veteran. That’s close to twice the national average for counties. Many of those veterans are Harrison County natives, but others are transplants who served at one of the bases and opted to settle here. Many are movers and shakers in their local communities.

   During the course of compiling this series, two things became clear during the interviews. The men and women in uniform who serve in Harrison County and the broader South Mississippi region are proud of what they do, and they feel welcome. As one high-ranking Navy officer put it, he likes being in a uniform when he’s out in the local community.

   That’s an impact hard to measure.

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