Page 92 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2025

Flying High from Gulfport-Biloxi
For visitors and business leaders alike, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is often the first glimpse of the Coast and it’s only getting busier. With direct flights to cities like Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, Los Angeles, and Orlando, the airport helps keep the economy connected and accessible.
Recent expansions and upgrades have made it a top-tier regional airport, and it’s a key player in attracting industry to South Mississippi. And just in
time for summer, Breeze Airways
is now offering affordable nonstop flights from the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport to Orlando, Florida, a previously unserved city pair. This service brings a new wave of growth and allows for easier access to popular tourism amenities in both destinations.
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler
A new era of rail travel will roll into
the Gulf Coast later this month. Amtrak has unveiled its highly anticipated Mardi Gras Service, connecting Mobile to New Orleans with daily round-trip service and scenic views of the coastline.
What makes this route even more exciting is Amtrak’s return to the Magnolia State with stops in Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay St. Louis, opening the door for tourism, economic growth, and easy travel for both locals and visitors. The Mardi Gras Service is set to be more than just a train ride. It’s a celebration on rails, rolling through the heart of the Coast.
Where Sky Meets Sea
The Magnolia State isn’t always the first place people think of when it comes to rocket science, but that’s quickly changing. The Stennis Space Center in
Hancock County is North America’s largest rocket engine testing site and nationally supports about 30,000 workers across federal agencies and contractors who collectively push the boundaries of what’s possible in space. At sea, there’s research in marine technology, smart ports, and ocean innovation that is just as
From the Port of Gulfport to research labs along the shoreline, the Coast is becoming a magnet for businesses focused on sustainable ocean innovation and reinforcing the region’s long-standing connection to the water, now with a cutting-edge twist.
Power, Products, & Paychecks
The region is also a major energy player. From the Chevron refinery in
Pascagoula to sprawling solar fields and the Gulf LNG terminal, the Coast
helps fuel the nation. Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector is
thriving with high-paying jobs in everything from plastics and
optical components to titanium dioxide production at Chemours DeLisle Plant in Pass Christian. South Mississippi’s workforce
is strong and skilled because the people deliver results.
Seafood Runs Deep in
Gulf Coast Blood
Ask anyone along the Coast what defines
the region, and you’ll hear one answer loud and clear, seafood. The shrimpers, oyster harvesters, crabbers, and processors create a thriving, seafood industry that stretches across the globe.
It’s in the Coast’s DNA with more than 1,600 shrimpers, 1,200 processors, and 38 coastal plants keeping the tradition alive. Generations of families put in the arduous, but honest work, and there’s no better-tasting shrimp in the world than what comes out of the Mississippi waters. In 2022 alone, commercial fishing landed 311 million pounds of seafood worth over $55 million. That year, the Mississippi seafood industry, including harvesting, processing, importing, wholesaling, and retailing, produced $329 million in total sales. That’s not just economic impact, that’s legacy.
groundbreaking
as the rocket programs.
The Coast is also charting a bold course toward becoming a national leader in the Blue Economy. With strong backing from the University of Southern Mississippi and groundbreaking initiatives like
Gulf Blue, the region is transforming into a powerhouse for ocean-based technology, aquaculture advancements, and autonomous underwater vehicle development.
The Gulf Blue initiative has garnered national attention for creating an environment where entrepreneurs, researchers, and marine technology companies can collaborate to develop solutions that benefit both the ocean and the economy.
92 | August 2025 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living