Page 26 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2019

COASTNOTES
MONEY MAGAZINE:
Gulfport Best City to Live
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos by Neil Ladner
What makes a city a great place to call home? While economic factors are important, they aren’t the only things to consider when deciding where to settle down. Character, sense of community and lifestyle are also key elements that make a city stand out.
Each year, Money magazine ranks the Best Places to Live in the U.S. based on these criteria. Using data gathered, the staff ranks the cities within each state, ultimately naming one the best in the state. For 2018, one of our coastal cities made the top of the list — Gulfport.
The article mentions the city’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, highlighting the decreased unemployment rate, affordable housing, large local employers such
as the Naval Construction Battalion Center and Island View Casino, and projected job growth of 6.1 percent by 2022. Also noted in the article was the $570 million port expansion that was completed in early December.
“It’s an honor to be acknowledged for the work our city and its employees have done to create a place of distinction that people like to visit and live in,” said Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes. “I think a lot of our strengths stem from our cultural gumbo, great diversity, work ethic and how we treat each other.”
Of course the cost of living and affordable housing do play a key role in making Gulfport a hotspot for those looking to relocate, but Hewes says there’s much more to the city than that. “We are just now being discovered by many, and in some cases rediscovered,” he said. “We’re breaking the stereotypes of Mississippi in a very positive fashion.”
According to Hewes, the city is constantly evolving
to improve and grow. “We’ve made a focused effort to understand the importance of economic development, attractive wages and housing cost,” he said. “These pieces of the puzzle paired with our sense of community, educational and recreational opportunities and driving tourism industry make us attractive to those looking to move to a new area.”
City of Gulfport
228.868.5700 www.gulfport-ms.gov
26 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2019
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