Harrison County Development Commission

10/21/2026

Thank you to Ben Weldon, CEO of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, for joining the Harrison County Development Commission commissioners to share his vision for the future of the Chamber and its role in strengthening community engagement and workforce development.

We appreciate Ben taking the time to share his perspective and engage in these important conversations about the future of our community!

10/15/2026

ALL A’S FOR HARRISON COUNTY!

All five school districts serving Harrison County- Biloxi Public School District, Gulfport School District, Long Beach School District, Pass Christian School District & Harrison County School District- earned A ratings in Mississippi’s newly released 2025–26 accountability grades.

This accomplishment is especially noteworthy as Mississippi raises the standards for school and district performance. Strong schools are essential to a strong economy. They help develop a skilled future workforce, attract new businesses and families, and strengthen the quality of life that makes Harrison County a great place to live, work, and do business.

Congratulations to our school districts, educators, students, families, and community partners on this outstanding achievement! We’re proud to see education remain a strength for Harrison County.

https://www.wlox.com/2026/10/15/south-mississippi-schools-earn-top-grades-under-new-mde-standards/?fbclid=IwY2xjawU97gBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMUplZG1Fb0Jya1EyQkpEY1dzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeudHkJysvAuJLmZnlbW1gP1Dd7Oc4S9nN1FB4MqP8e10fg_wi7aAPxyWp-ao_aem_Z6e44xk2pluofMXJMNy03w

This year, the state is using higher standards for earning grades.

10/09/2026

Earlier today, Mississippi Tourism Assoc presented Harrison County Development Commission with the Tourism Achievement Award at its annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism, recognizing our efforts to bring Buc-ee's to Harrison County.

This recognition represents many years of dedication, collaboration, and belief in the potential of our region. Buc-ee’s investment has created new jobs, increased visibility, and given more travelers a reason to stop, explore, and experience true Mississippi hospitality.

We’re also excited to celebrate Siren Social Club, located right here in Harrison County, for being named Restaurant of the Year, as well as Coastal Mississippi and Condé Nast for winning Tourism Partnership of the Year!

We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Coastal Mississippi and the many partners who work together to strengthen our communities, grow our economy, and showcase everything our region has to offer, one beaver nugget at a time.

10/02/2026

Happy National Manufacturing Day!

Today, we celebrate the people and companies in Harrison County that drive progress in diverse sectors like aerospace, defense, marine manufacturing, and so much more. These businesses design, build, test, and deliver products for a global market, supported by a skilled workforce and strong infrastructure.

Manufacturing is essential to our economy and identity. We proudly honor the manufacturers who choose Harrison County and the people behind their success.

09/24/2026

HCDC’s Brandi Hough served as a judge for the 33rd Annual True South Basic Economic Development Course at The University of Southern Mississippi alongside other established economic development professionals across the state.

The introductory course gives participants a hands-on look at the fundamentals and practice of economic development - from creating jobs and increasing wealth to strengthening the tax base and enhancing a community’s quality of life. It also serves as the first step toward pursuing professional economic development certification.

This year’s course wrapped up with The Game, where participants tackled a real-world scenario involving a community seeking to attract a large national animal-themed travel center chain. As a judge, Brandi evaluated participants as they put their economic development knowledge, strategy, and collaboration skills into action.

09/15/2026

Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC)'s Emerging Leaders visited Coastal Mississippi to explore economic development organizations and industries across Jackson, Harrison, and Hancock counties. This experience gave the group a valuable opportunity to discover the progress made across the coast.

https://www.mscoast.org/news/medcs-emerging-leaders-cohort-visits-coastal-mississippi

Jackson County Economic Development Foundation
Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission
NetBait
Fairbanks Morse Defense
Karman Space & Defense

As part of the MEDC Emerging Leaders program, we spend the year visiting economic development organizations (EDOs) statewide. Our recent session took place right in my backyard, Coastal Mississippi. Our cohort spent two days exploring various economic development organizations and industries through

09/09/2026

Save the Date flyer for the Mississippi Air National Guard's Fall 2026 College and Career Fair. The event will be held at the AVCRAD Army Hangar on September 30 and October 1. More details to come!

09/02/2026

“We are very excited to see the expansion, new technology and opportunities that Gulf Ship continues to bring to Harrison County. This is another great example of one of our multigenerational businesses investing in a proven market with a supportive workforce and business environment that fosters their innovation and success.” – Harrison County Development Commission Executive Director Bill Lavers

08/28/2026

Ocean Aero is continuing to grow its operations in Gulfport with a $4 million expansion that will create 45 new jobs. The project will expand the company's manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for its autonomous maritime technology.

https://mississippi.org/news/ocean-aero-expanding-operations-in-gulfport/?fbclid=IwY2xjawT-glRwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWNRT0hKUmhvZTRhQ0FvMElzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeAXcfaYmz7tu7wif4JF4GCm3VMqLc7D7Io1ZEbud_3JQCdu54EH1ZJvTZPW4_aem_p8QqNER6tklCZOZWyo4FdA

Mississippi's blue economy just got even stronger.

Ocean Aero is continuing to grow its operations in Gulfport with a $4 million expansion that will create 45 new jobs. The project will expand the company's manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for its autonomous maritime technology.

When innovative manufacturers choose to reinvest where they already operate, it says a great deal about the advantages Mississippi provides for long-term growth—and about the momentum building along our Gulf Coast.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4xYPgFr

Harrison County Development Commission

08/11/2026

The new D7 Metals plant in Harrison County is nearing completion! They are close to finishing and preparing to open their doors and will announce the official opening dates in the coming weeks.

The plant will enhance customer service by offering higher-quality metal, faster service, and increased capacity.

Learn more: https://d7metals.com/

📷: D7 Metals