Page 94 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2025

Several high-impact projects
will soon be underway including:
Other funded projects include
critical upgrades to sewer, water, and transportation infrastructure in Ocean Springs, Moss Point, Diamondhead, and Pearl River County. Improvements include bulkhead renovations, living shoreline construction, road elevation, and harbor mapping across the region.
Together, these projects reflect a strategic investment in South Mississippi’s future with bolstering industry, creating jobs, enhancing environmental resilience, and protecting the coastal communities that make Mississippi unique. With these
new projects underway, the future looks brighter than ever.
So whether it’s a shrimp boat heading out at sunrise, a Navy ship christened along the Pascagoula River, a rocket
test lighting up the sky at Stennis, or travelers arriving through Gulfport-Biloxi International, South Mississippi proves that coastal strength comes not just from steel or science, but from the hearts of the people who call the Gulf Coast home.
• $4.4 million for Jackson
County Port Authority Bulkhead Expansion, including 500 feet of outfitting bulkhead renovation and dredging to increase port capacity.
• $6.6 million for the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center
in Harrison County to support high-tech job growth and security innovation.
• $3.2 million for the Marine Aquaculture Demonstration Center in Jackson County to support seafood industry growth and aquaculture businesses.
• $2.7 million to expand sewer infrastructure in the Martin Bluff and Hickory Hill neighborhoods in Gautier.
• $2.5 million for the D’Iberville Marina Expansion along the Back Bay of Biloxi.
• $2.5 million for Highway 603 Sewer Expansion in Hancock County, improving service for businesses and residents.
• $1.2 million for engineering
and design work for the Port of Gulfport East Pier Expansion.
• $1.1 million for apron and taxiway improvements at Trent Lott Airport in Jackson County.
The projects also include significant efforts to protect and restore the environment.
• $4 million to extend sewer and water systems to support growth in Waveland’s City Center district. • $3.75 million for coastal
protection, conservation, and infrastructure improvements along Moss Point’s riverfront.
• $1 million to build an oyster reef on commercial water bottoms across Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties.
• $1 million to expand the Dolphin and Sea Turtle Hospital at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport.
• $1.1 million to support the restoration and sustainability of speckled sea trout in Harrison County.
• $2.4 million for hurricane impact mitigation projects in municipal harbors along the Gulf Coast.
• $1.1 million to develop a Comprehensive Conservation
and Management Plan for the Mississippi Sound Estuary.
• Several initiatives will help prepare residents for high- demand careers and support small businesses.
• $7.1 million for the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network Program to develop a workforce for the growing tech sector.
• $1.9 million to expand hydrographic science instruction at Pearl River Community College.
• $312,000 to fund small business development initiatives across Stone, George, Harrison, Pearl River, Hancock, and Jackson Counties.
94 | Augusstt22002255 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living