Harrison County Development Commission Receives Cooperative Energy’s 2025 SPARK Award for Landmark Buc-ee’s Project

Sep 23

Written By Harrison County Development Commission

Reshared Press Release from Cooperative Energy - September 16, 2025

Harrison County, Miss. – .Cooperative Energy is proud to announce that the Harrison County Development Commission has been awarded the 2025 SPARK Award, recognizing extraordinary achievements in economic development within Cooperative Energy’s service territory. This year’s award honors the Harrison County Development Commission’s leadership in bringing Mississippi’s first Buc-ee’s travel center to life. This milestone project is not only a commercial win but also a transformative economic development success for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The $80 million Buc-ee’s project, located off the Menge Avenue exit on Interstate 10, officially opened on June 9, 2025. The 74,000-square-foot facility features 126 fuel pumps, 24 EV charging stations, and 165 restrooms. Since opening, the development has created more than 200 new jobs with competitive wages, benefits, and retirement plans, while also becoming a regional magnet for visitors traveling hours just to experience the brand. The project is expected to generate an estimated $50–$60 million in annual revenue, serving as a powerful catalyst for sustained growth in the region.

“This project demonstrates that non-traditional wins can truly move the needle for our communities,” said Bill Lavers, executive director of the Harrison County Development Commission. “It took persistence, partnership, and a vision for what was possible. We knew Buc-ee’s would change the perception of what can happen in Mississippi, and we were determined to make it a reality. This award reflects the collaboration of countless partners who believed in the impact this development could deliver.”

Bringing the project to fruition required unprecedented collaboration and infrastructure investment. Harrison County committed $15 million in local funding and leveraged Tax Increment Financing to meet infrastructure needs. The Mississippi Legislature and Mississippi Department of Transportation supported a major upgrade to a two-lane bridge along Interstate 10 that had not been touched since 1973, enabling it to handle the surge in traffic.

Additionally, the project’s scale and demand required new energy infrastructure. Coast Electric, working with its generation and transmission partner, Cooperative Energy, planned and constructed a -new electric substation to serve the site and projected regional growth.

“The Buc-ee’s development showcases the very best of what happens when local leadership, state partners, and utilities come together with a shared goal,” said Ron Barnes, President and CEO of Coast Electric. “This project called for innovative solutions to meet unique challenges, and we are proud to have played a role in delivering the reliable energy infrastructure needed to support a game-changing economic investment for Harrison County and the Gulf Coast.”

In selecting the Harrison County Development Commission, the SPARK Award Committee recognized not only the scale of the Buc-ee’s investment, but also the project’s long-term impact on job creation, tax revenue, and community pride. What began with persistence, cold calls, bold outreach, and a determination to be heard, ultimately became a blueprint for bold, collaborative economic development in Mississippi.

“Buc-ee’s is more than just a travel center. It is proof that with vision, persistence, and strong partnerships, Mississippi can compete for and win projects that bring long-term growth to our communities,” said Mitch Stringer, director of economic development for Cooperative Energy. “The Harrison County Development Commission embodies the spirit of the SPARK Award, and we are proud to honor them with this recognition.”