JCEDF

A public-private partnership focused on growing and diversifying the economy.

About the Foundation

Jackson County Economic Development Foundation (JCEDF) is a public-private partnership focused on growing and diversifying the economy through public policy and economic and workforce development.  

The Foundation provides a unified and comprehensive approach to economic development in a highly competitive business location environment. The Foundation is committed to preparing and aggressively searching out new business and investment opportunities to help our county thrive.

The Jackson County Economic Development Foundation staff is committed to creating jobs, generating capital investment, increasing the quality of life in this area, and diversifying industry.

George L Freeland

George L. Freeland, Jr.

Executive Director
gfreeland@jcedf.org

Mary Martha Henson jcedf headshot

Mary Martha Henson

Deputy Director
mhenson@jcedf.org

Hope O'Brien

Hope O’Brien

Executive Assistant & Office Manager
hobrien@jcedf.org

Royce Cumbest

Royce Cumbest, Chairman

Corporate Sector at Large

Jerry St. Pé, Vice-Chairman

Jerry St. Pé, Vice-Chairman

Corporate Sector at Large

Greg Cronin, Treasurer

Greg Cronin, Treasurer

Corporate Sector at Large

Cynthia Baber-Strunk

Cynthia Baber-Strunk

Corporate Sector at Large

Brian Hughey

Brian Hughey

Corporate Sector at Large

Kari Wilkinson

Kari Wilkinson

Corporate Sector at Large

Tim Potter

Tim Potter

Corporate Sector at Large

Hank Torjusen

Hank Torjusen

Corporate Sector at Large

Troy Ross

Troy Ross

President
Jackson County Board of Supervisors

Royce Cumbest

Barry Cumbest

Jackson County Board of Supervisors

	Wallace Easley

Wallace Easley

Jackson County Port Authority 

Greg Williams

Greg Williams

Jackson County Port Authority

Mayor Casey Vaughan

Mayor Casey Vaughan

City of Gautier 

Mayor Billy Knight

Mayor Billy Knight

City of Moss Point

	Mayor Kenny Holloway

Mayor Kenny Holloway

City of Ocean Springs

Mayor Jay Willis

Mayor Jay Willis

City of Pascagoula 

As a leading Jackson County change agent, the JCEDF is engaged in several public policy initiatives. These include:

  • S.O.S. Pascagoula. This collaborative effort including the JCEDF, city and county officials, and other stakeholders works to remedy the negative effects of a FEMA-imposed “substantial flood improvement rule” that stalls the development of new and improved housing. As the lead entity, the Foundation works closely with federal and state partners on this project to ensure adequate workforce housing for Jackson County.
  • P3: Passion. Purpose. Paycheck. This ongoing program provides career coaching in each of Jackson County’s seven high schools along with a dynamic mobile application through Merit which features a resume component and TikTok-style videos that introduce high school students to real-time employees of local employers such as Chevron, Ingalls, the University of Southern Mississippi, Singing River Health Systems, and others. Additionally, the program surveys students through a nationally recognized aptitude program, YouScience, which helps guide students along a pathway to find their “passion,” then their “purpose.”
  • Strategic Innovation Plan. Working alongside a nationally-recognized consulting firm, the JCEDF is developing a strategic innovation plan to grow the innovation economy with an emphasis on how best to capitalize on the assets of existing defense and other industry, higher education, and federal agencies while considering Jackson County’s vast natural environment and quality of life features.

Key Advantages

Why Jackson County

Property Search & Analysis

JCEDF: Public & Private Partnerships

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