Page 59 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2023

“Through a relentless pursuit of opportunities, Gulfport is helping to transform the physical and economic profile of the
state’s fastest-growing region,” Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes said.
As the Magnolia State’s second-largest city, Gulfport has increased economic investments by $1 billion in the last decade, including commercial, hospitality, medical, military, education, business, and tourism. And there’s no slowing down for city leaders as numerous projects have been recently completed or are nearing fruition.
On Gulfport’s new horizon is a $50 million mixed-use development downtown housing project with 200 luxury apartments, entertainment venues, and public parking spaces and will stand as a town center. The new skyline also features a one-of-a-kind pedestrian, bike, and tram bridge.
The $18 million transit development will provide a public tram over U.S. 90 and includes paths for walking and biking. It’s a pivotal project that will connect
the Mississippi Aquarium campus to the front yard of the Coast – the green space of Jones Park and the small craft harbor. It also includes a 550-vehicle parking garage and should be completed in 2024. The development, quite literally, bridges the gap between downtown Gulfport and the actual Gulf of Mexico.
In addition to the mixed-use downtown development underway, new housing areas are popping up all over
the city, with short and long-term rental markets both thriving but boasting a median cost that’s around half the national average.
And the endless economic opportunities caught the eye of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo when she visited Gulfport in 2021 to tour the city and see firsthand what it has to offer.
“What you have in (Gulfport) is first-rate and world- class,” Raimondo said. “This is my first time in
Mississippi, and I had several, ‘I had no idea’ moments. That’s a credit to you all.”
Another major project is a $600 million state-of-the-art facility at the Mississippi Port at Gulfport. The project includes the nation’s newest maritime headquarters, the University of Southern Mississippi’s Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise. The research hub opened earlier this year and partners with private companies,
the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Naval Oceanographic office. The facility has a strong focus on unmanned marine systems and blue technology innovation. OceanAero is the first major private tenant, relocating from San Diego to Gulfport and is building a 67,000-square-foot warehouse. The entire project is slated for completion in 2027.
But the city’s current crowning jewel is the $90 million, 50-acre beachfront development of the Centennial Plaza that opened in 2019. Once a blighted property, it now has two boutique hotels, a water park, and frequent festivals. It’s also “Cruise Central” the headquarters for America’s top classic car show Cruisin’ the Coast. It’s become a popular Gulf Coast attraction for beachgoers searching for a little relaxation as well as destination weddings.
So, the secret is out, and Gulfport is the place to live, work, and vacation. And don’t be surprised if you run into a few military personnel around town. The Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Center and the Armed Forces Retirement Home are in Gulfport as well as
the Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center. The training center regularly hosts training and deployments of Air National Guard units from across America.
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