A Message from Bill Lavers, Executive director, Harrison COunty Development Commission

The Harrison County Development Commission (HCDC) has delivered meaningful economic and infrastructural progress over the past year, strengthening its role as a driving force for growth and opportunity across Coastal Mississippi. Through bold business recruitment, retention, workforce development initiatives, and strategic infrastructure investments, we are positioning Harrison County for long-term success.

As we look ahead to an even stronger future, it’s important to reflect on and celebrate the accomplishments that continue to move our community forward.

Completed Projects

Buc-ee’s Grand Opening - June 2025

The $80 million Buc-ee’s project at the Menge Avenue exit on Interstate 10 officially opened on June 9, 2025.

Highlights include:

74,000-square-foot facility
126 fuel pumps
24 EV charging stations
165 restrooms
200+ new jobs with competitive wages, benefits, and retirement plans

The site has quickly become a regional destination, drawing visitors from across the South. With an estimated $50–$60 million in annual revenue, Buc-ee’s is poised to be a powerful catalyst for sustained economic activity.

Gulf Ship Bulkhead Project

HCDC completed construction of a 680-foot bulkhead at Gulf Ship, significantly enhancing maritime operations along the Gulf Coast. The project was funded through RESTORE Act grants in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The project was designed and overseen by HCDC staff engineer Jason Gibson. Construction was completed by Fair Tide Construction, with materials and services provided by:

Meever (steel)
All American (concrete)
Warren Paving Inc. (aggregate)
Seals Trucking (hauling)
Ferguson (miscellaneous materials)

New Projects Launched

D7 Metals

D7 Metals is a Florida-based company that is currently constructing a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Harrison County. Once completed, this facility will create 52 jobs. This new plant will allow D7 Metals to expand our production capabilities and better serve our growing network of distributors and customers with high-quality metal roofing. The project is located close to Seaway Road and expected completion is in mid 2026.

NextERA - Pecan Grove

Waste Management’s Pecan Grove Landfill gas to energy project was Mississippi’s first operational project to come on line under the State’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) in 2005. In this project, gas from the Pecan Grove Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, located at 9685 Firetower Road in Harrison County near Pass Christian, is captured and treated at the landfill property. This treated gas is then piped to the E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company facility (DuPont) located near DeLisle, MS. The DuPont/Delisle plant produces Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), a whitening agent used mainly in the paper, plastics, and coatings industries.

Existing Industry Expansions

Seemann Composites

Seemann Composites, located in the Bernard Bayou Industrial Park, announced a major expansion that will improve production capabilities and create more than 40 new jobs. The company remains a global leader in advanced composite manufacturing.

ENFRA (Formerly Barnhard)

ENFRA completed a major lighting retrofit in its Long Beach prefabrication facility, replacing 650 HID Metal Halide fixtures with high-efficiency LEDs.

Impact includes:

432,744 kWh annual electricity reduction
Approx. $48,726 in annual energy savings
Improved safety, visibility, and operational efficiency across 300,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space

This facility plays a critical role in producing modular HVAC and plumbing systems that enhance project efficiencies, drive safety, and improve quality control.

USMI

United States Marine, Inc. is currently expanding its operations. The facility currently has over 131,550 square feet of covered area for welding, electrical, outfitting, upholstery, painting and administrative offices, including engineering offices, meeting rooms and customer offices.

The expansion is a $6 million investment and will create 30 new jobs.

Huber

Huber is based in Gulfport and offers 17 dedicated models with seven registered trademarks, not including custom units. The company has become the largest independent manufacturer of vacuum units in the United States.

Their expansion is a $6 million investment and will create 84 new jobs.

Awards, Recognitions & Milestones

Cooperative Energy Spark Award

HCDC was honored with Cooperative Energy’s 2025 Spark Award for its leadership in bringing Mississippi’s first Buc-ee’s travel center to fruition. This milestone development represents both a major commercial achievement and a transformative economic win for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Harrison County is on the rise!

During this year’s State of the County address, we celebrated record-breaking investments, job creation and community growth. Supervisor Nathan Barrett, President of the Board of Supervisors, did an excellent job of highlighting the progress our county has made. He expressed gratitude for our past achievements, acknowledged the opportunities currently available, and looked forward to future growth.

HCDC provided an update on the status of economic development initiatives, which ultimately led the county to fund HCDC after 20 years.

Those updates include:

$3.6 billion in new projects
Over $151.3 million in completed investments
3,120 new jobs on the horizon, in addition to 732 jobs already created
More than $84 million in annual payroll for the county
Over $4.2 million in projected annual tax revenue

Celebrating another year of SUCCESSFUL clean Audits

As a state agency, it is crucial to maintain clean audits. Lori Frazier, HCDC's CFO and Director of HR, consistently excels at it. This year, HCDC celebrated its seventh consecutive year of receiving a clean audit.

Each year, three types of audits are conducted:

Utility and Capital Audit
Foreign Trade Zone Audit
Single Audit of Grants Exceeding $1 Million

Brandi Hough Recognized as one of Mississippi’s Most Influential African Americans

Brandi Hough was honored at the 11th annual Our MS Gala, hosted by Our Mississippi Magazine, which recognizes Mississippi’s Most Influential African Americans for 2024-2025.

Collin Caranna, Director of Marketing and Government Affairs for HCDC, graduated from the Gulf Coast Business Council’s (GCBC) Masters Leadership Program. The seven-month-long program brought together leaders from across the coastal counties to strengthen collaboration, encourage regional thinking and inspire solutions to community challenges.

Collin and her classmates received an assignment to "create a South Mississippi Defense and Military Affairs Council." This organization would connect the various military installations and community leaders in coastal region: Keesler Air Force Base, Naval Construction Battalion Center, Camp Shelby JFTC, Trent Lott Combat Readiness Training Center, Stennis Space Center and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Workforce Development & Collaborations

Bollinger Shipyards Lunch & Learn

HCDC partnered with Bollinger Shipyards to host a Lunch & Learn focused on strengthening collaboration between education and industry. Attendees included Gulfport School District Superintendent Glen East, Long Beach School District Superintendent Dr. Talia Lock, and special guest Representative Kevin Felsher. The event highlighted innovative career pathways and workforce training initiatives for students.

Rionegro’s Mayor Visits Harrison County to Renew Sister City Agreement

In a continued effort to expand international relationships and foster cultural and economic exchange, HCDC proudly hosted the Honorable Jorge Humberto Rivas, Mayor of Rionegro, Colombia, and his family for a three-day visit to Coastal Mississippi from July 28–30, 2025.

This visit marked the next chapter in a relationship that began in 2018, when representatives from Rionegro traveled to Coastal Mississippi to explore opportunities in air cargo. That initial meeting led to a 2019 delegation from Harrison County visiting Colombia, where leaders from Gulfport and Biloxi signed the region’s first sister city agreement with Rionegro. Notably, the former mayor of Rionegro at the time, Andrés Julián, is now the governor of Antioquia.

Grilling, Gathering, Growing

The Board of Commissioners, industry partners, and prospective investors connected over shared goals: strengthening our business conditions, expanding opportunities for our workforce, and continuing the momentum driving our region forward.

These gatherings often lead to the most meaningful conversations: discussing upcoming projects, exploring new collaborations, and identifying ways we can collectively support innovation, job creation, and long-term prosperity throughout the county.

Final Thoughts on 2025

To conclude the year, HCDC hosts its annual block party to celebrate achievements in industry, business, and community fellowship. We look forward with optimism for better collaboration, bigger investments, and a stronger Harrison County.