Weekly Roundup: Jackson County Economic Development Foundation News Clips November 7th

Singing River Healthcare Academy breaks ground as Mississippi’s first medical workforce academy

Y’all Politics 
Anne Summerhays | November 11, 2022 

On Thursday, the Singing River Healthcare Academy broke ground as Mississippi’s first medical workforce academy. The Healthcare Academy, located in Jackson County, is established as the state’s first-ever medical apprenticeship program implemented to provide growth opportunities and career pathways to improve health and save lives in our community through a bigger and better, more diverse workforce. 

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Singing River Healthcare Academy breaks ground as Mississippi’s first medical workforce academy

WLOX 
Jennifer Lott | November 10, 2022 

As state and local leaders break ground on the Ocean Springs site, Fernandez is scrubbing up to put on her surgical cap for graduation, revealing how she was among the first group of students to come through the program. “It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to get in and have a refresher and get to the operating room,” Fernandez said. Singing River hopes to break the ribbon for the facility in the fall of 2024. 

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As New USCG Icebreaker Breaks Shipyard, Bollinger Expected To Take Over Bollinger

Forbes 
Craig Hooper | November 6, 2022 

While nothing is certain, Bollinger Shipyards is expected to announce Monday morning that it is assuming ownership of Bollinger, a troubled Gulf Coast shipbuilder. Bollinger executives, contacted Friday, did not comment but offered to arrange an informational interview on any business changes Monday, in advance of any formal announcement. But, after learning Bollinger Shipyards discussed the matter with at least one other media outlet before the Monday interview, we are publishing what we know, now. 

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Bollinger Shipyards set to acquire Pascagoula companies VT Bollinger, STEHMO

WLOX 
November 7, 2022 

While nothing is certain, Bollinger Shipyards is expected to announce Monday morning that it is assuming ownership of Bollinger, a troubled Gulf Coast shipbuilder. Bollinger executives, contacted Friday, did not comment but offered to arrange an informational interview on any business changes Monday, in advance of any formal announcement. But, after learning Bollinger Shipyards discussed the matter with at least one other media outlet before the Monday interview, we are publishing what we know, now.

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Pascagoula companies VT Bollinger, STEHMO acquired by Bollinger Shipyards

SuperTalk MS 
Alyssa Arbuckle | November 7, 2022 

Pascagoula-based companies VT Bollinger, Inc. and ST Engineering Bollinger Offshore (STEHMO) have entered into an agreement with Bollinger Shipyards, the largest privately-owned and operated shipbuilder in the United States. Bollinger announced the details of the transaction on Monday, stating that the agreement expands Bollinger’s new construction and repair capacity and capabilities on the Gulf Coast. 

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Governor Tate Reeves announces 15 new RESTORE Act projects with MDEQ

WLOX 
Stephanie Poole | November 10, 2022 

The city of Moss Point is awarded $5.5 million dollars. Mayor Billy Knight said the Point of Connection project invests in road infrastructure to alleviate traffic congestion and economic development. “We just got an engineer approved by the state and we’re going to start the process of evaluating surveys and environmental studies. There’s so much potential in Moss Point. We’re so excited about it,” said Mayor Knight. A timeline for all projects has not been announced, but state leads are ready to get to work. 

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Research Day brings USM professors together in collaborative spirit

WLOX 
Mike Lacy | November 4, 2022 

If you thought academic research was dry and uninteresting, you haven’t seen this. Friday was the University of Southern Mississippi’s annual Research Day at the Marine Education Center in Ocean Springs. Eighty research professors showcased their achievements. The collaboration at the event helps develop creative ideas with real-life applications we all can understand. We all can relate to hurricanes and the damage they cause. Dr. Salar Kamari’s current research focuses on construction sites to identify potential physical disasters thus, preventing financial disasters. 

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USM Creating Innovative Initiatives to Combat Nursing Shortage

USM 
November 10, 2022 

Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, Miss., has been a long-term supporter and benefactor of the USM nursing program. Susan Russell, Chief Nursing Officer at Singing River, praises the University’s commitment to supplying qualified nurses through the regional pipeline. Added Russell: “One of our doctoral-prepared managers from the USM program currently directs a weekly clinical group on our Ocean Springs campus, which is a huge win for both the University and health care systems seeking more baccalaureate-prepared nurses.” 

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Jamie Miller discusses goals for Gulf Coast Business Council

USM
November 10, 2022

Now that Jamie Miller has officially started as President and CEO of the Gulf Coast Business Council, he has opened up about some of his aspirations for the council’s future. As a part of his new duties, the new CEO is eager to work with government and business leaders across the Mississippi Gulf Coast who share a continuous drive to maximize economic success. With companies like Hancock Whitney, Yates, and Ingalls Shipbuilding making great economic strides on the Coast, Miller understands that he will have to dedicate himself to meeting high expectations. 

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Vote scheduled to decide fate of Gulf Coast Amtrak route

MS Today 
Sara diNatale | October 28, 2022 

Amtrak has maintained the route can handle the added passenger train traffic, while companies CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company say it could negatively affect businesses that rely on the Port of Mobile to move freight. The hearings, beginning Nov. 17, will focus on models that predict train traffic. Amtrak hasn’t run a Gulf Coast route since Hurricane Katrina. The proposed route would run two trains daily in the morning with stops in Bay St. Louis, Pascagoula, Gulfport, and Biloxi. 

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Amtrak, freight railroads ask for more mediation time in Gulf Coast case

WLOX 
November 2, 2022 

A joint filing states, “The Parties have made considerable progress in their discussions, and expect that the coming weeks, leading up to Dec. 1, will be critical in determining whether a negotiated resolution can be reached.” The proposed Amtrak passenger service would run two trains daily with stops in Bay St. Louis, Pascagoula, Gulfport and Biloxi. Amtrak and members of the Southern Rail Commission from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama support the plan to add the passenger routes, but CSX, Norfolk Southern Rail and the Alabama Port Authority are against it, claiming the daily routes would impact their freight operations. 

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Ingalls Shipbuilding hosting veterans hiring event

WLOX 
Leslie Rojas | November 8, 2022 

Ingalls Shipbuilding is hosting a veterans hiring event this upcoming weekend. Ingalls Director of Talent Acquisition Fatina Brave said the company really values veterans. “The veterans are very important to our company. They’re very important to our community, so we know being the largest shipbuilder in the state of Mississippi, we have career opportunities for our veterans,” Brave said. Workers at Ingalls take part in a particularly important task building ships for the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy. The company has been the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi for nearly 85 years. Workers help design, build, and maintain ships. 

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City of Moss Point approves new fire chief

WXXV 
Sabria Reid | November 1, 2022 

There’s a new fire chief in town! During Moss Point’s city council meeting tonight, the council unanimously approved Mayor Billy Knight’s recommendation to hire Danny Wade as fire chief for the city. Chief Wade has served in the fire service since 1998, putting out fires in Laurel and Hattiesburg. He’s worked his way up the ranks to the assistant fire chief. 

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MEC, Accelerate Mississippi want 55% of the workforce to have a college degree by 2030

MS Today 
Molly Minta | November 4, 2022 

Mississippi already seems to be on track to achieve this goal – by 2030, an estimated 59% of the state’s workforce will have a college degree or equivalent certificate, according to a paper commissioned by the Woodward Hines Education Foundation.  The strategic plan will aim to guide policy and marketing so that Mississippians are getting college degrees that meet the varying needs of employers like Nissan in central Mississippi, Ingalls Shipbuilding to the south, and Toyota to the north. 

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Inflation affecting pavement of Ocean Springs neighborhood road

WLOX 
Ja’Colbi Rivers | November 9, 2022 

John McCarthy is a resident in the Woodhaven Subdivision in Ocean Springs and says the conditions of the roads in his neighborhood are dangerous and can lead to unfortunate situations. “You can be doing ten miles on this road and the rocks could spit up and hit anybody,” said McCarthy. “Down the road, there are some people that parked their cars down the road, and my daughter came to get to her house, and when she did that, they blocked the road. When they unblocked the road, she went, and some rocks went up and may have went close to their grandchildren, and she came down and unloaded on my daughter and filed reckless driving charges on her.” 

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