Groundbreaking held for new MSU Northern Gulf Aquatic Seafood Lab in Jackson County
A groundbreaking was held Monday morning for Mississippi State University’s new Northern Gulf Aquatic Seafood Lab in Jackson County. It is a first-of-its-kind facility that will focus on aquatic food safety, quality assessment, and processing and product development. The new facility will be the first of three planned structures. It will house a biosafety laboratory for testing pathogens and toxins and an analytical chemistry lab for measuring chemical residues in water and aquatic food products. “A major limiting factor for aquatic foods safety testing here in Mississippi is that no such facility is available, so our local processors have to send samples as far away as Galveston, Texas,” said James Henderson, professor and center head of MSU’s Coastal Research and Extension Center, in a statement. “This new facility will allow us to expedite that process.” Mary Martha Henson, deputy director of the JCEDF, said the Foundation believes in creating relationships. “Working with a flagship university like Mississippi State will continue to give Jackson County opportunities to diversify our economy and bring in high-skilled, high-paying jobs to support an industry that is an economic driver and an integral part of the Gulf Coast’s fabric,” she said.
Related: Charting safer waters: MSU breaks ground on new seafood testing facility
MSU News
New developments coming to Lowery Island in Pascagoula
https://www.wxxv25.com/new-developments-coming-to-lowery-island-in-pascagoula/
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WXXV) – Pascagoula is bound to break ground on a long-anticipated project.. Transforming Lowery Island into a hub of entertainment and relaxation. With funding in place and a committed developer secured, the Lowery Island project is officially moving forward. Mayor Jay Willis says residents can look forward to something special, right in the heart of their hometown. This project has been made possible due to support from state partners and the RESTORE Act, the city has secured more than $4.4 million in funding for Phase 1.
Pascagoula parks being built thanks to food & drink tax
https://www.wxxv25.com/pascagoula-parks-being-built-thanks-to-food-and-drinks-tax/
Pascagoula, Miss. (WXXV)- Parks are where childhood memories are made, from splash pads to summer ballgames. In Pascagoula, those memories are being built one meal at a time. A 2% tax on restaurant food and drinks is funding parks and playgrounds across the city.
All aboard: Amtrak announces start of Mardi Gras service running between New Orleans and Mobile
Amtrak announced Thursday that agreements have been reached for the new twice-daily Amtrak intercity train service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast between New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama. Starting this summer, the new state-sponsored Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will offer convenient morning and evening departures from both cities with stops along the Mississippi Coast in the cities of Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is a natural choice for the name of the new trains that will reflect the region’s distinctive culture,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris in a statement. “Travel should be about more than just getting somewhere. Our goal is to have some of that festive Mardi Gras feeling on every trip, sharing the culture of the Gulf Coast region while connecting with the rest of the Amtrak network.”
Bollinger awarded $951M icebreaker contract
https://www.supertalk.fm/bollinger-shipyards-in-pascagoula-awarded-951-million-icebreaker-contract/
Pascagoula is looking to secure its reputation as the “icebreaker capital of the world”with the announcement of nearly a billion dollars in government money going to Bollinger Shipyards and its efforts to build ice-breaking vessels. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security had decided to modify the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) icebreaker contract to include an additional $951.6 million investment at Bollinger’s location in Pascagoula.
Ribbon cutting ceremony held for Cottages Depot
https://www.wlox.com/2025/03/19/ribbon-cutting-ceremony-held-cottages-depot-pascagoula/
Officials cut the ribbon on The Cottages at the Depot on Delmas Avenue in Pascagoula Tuesday.
The downtown area once known as Anchor Square, which was a commercial spot where people could rent space to sell merchandise, had been vacant for nearly two years. The new development is made up of 16 different cottages.
Longtime Pascagoula Gautier School District educator named Superintendent
Dr. Caterria Payton has walked the halls of Pascagoula-Gautier schools for years. It’s where her journey as an educator began 25 years ago. “I’ve been a teacher, I’ve been districtwide lead teacher, I’ve been elementary principal, I’ve been secondary principal, and currently I am serving as the assistant superintendent of secondary education,” Dr. Payton says. Following the retirement of Superintendent Billy Ellzey, Dr. Payton will move up the ranks to assume the position. Gautier High principal Pamela Forrest says she remembers starting out her career with Dr. Payton by her side.
Moss Point says farewell to one leader, welcomes another
Moss Point School District Superintendent Dr. Oswago Harper, who will be stepping down from the role in July, was presented with an award from city and community leaders on Wednesday.
Under his leadership, Dr. Harper and his team helped continue the growth of the district, which ultimately led to a ‘B’ rating. Dr. Harper also helped introduce new courses like aviation, a partnership with Alcorn State to allow students to earn college credits, and community education to allow Moss Point residents a second chance to get a high school diploma.
This MS coast town ranked among America’s best
https://www.sunherald.com/living/travel/article305241636.html
For the fifth year in a row, the cultural scene of one MS Coast town has been identified as one of the best in the country. USA Today ranked Ocean Springs as the ninth “Best Small Town Cultural Scene.” “Situated on the Gulf Coast, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is known for its arts and culture as much as its fresh seafood,” said the national publication. The 10Best list recognizes towns with populations of 25,000 or less with a thriving cultural scene, including museums, art galleries, performing arts and related events. Public art, popular museums and annual art festivals contributed to Ocean Springs’ acclaim.
City of Gautier moving forward with next phase of town center project
https://www.wlox.com/2025/04/14/city-gautier-moving-forward-with-next-phase-town-center-project/
Guitar player Steven Dunlap just moved back to Gautier after spending three years in Washington State. Tuesday, he’ll get a chance to visit The Sound Amphitheater for the first time to watch Willie Nelson on stage. “It’s great for the community to bring acts to the venue that would bring people out,” Dunlap said. Dunlap didn’t live in Gautier when the amphitheater opened in April of 2024. He said he’s also thrilled to learn about the city’s next big project, the Gautier Town Center, which will be right across the street from the concert venue.
Gautier leaders honor Rep. John Read on Sound Amphitheatre’s anniversary
https://www.wlox.com/2025/03/15/gautier-leaders-honor-rep-john-read-sound-amphitheaters-anniversary/
Gautier city leaders are celebrating the anniversary of The Sound Amphitheater by honoring a state legislator who helped make the venue possible. “Remember the day they honored Lou Gehrig at Yankee Stadium? He said he was the happiest man alive. This is kind of the happiest day I’ve had,” said Representative John Read, the honoree at Friday’s event. Representative Read serves the 112th district in the state House of Representatives and has been a member of the House since 1992.
Ingalls Shipbuilding celebrates new apprenticeship graduates (video)
HII to celebrate National Apprenticeship Day
https://hii.com/news/hii-to-celebrate-national-apprenticeship-day/
In honor of National Apprenticeship Day on April 30, HII (NYSE: HII), the nation’s largest military shipbuilder and all-domain defense provider, is highlighting the thousands of HII apprentices who are helping build the most advanced ships and technologies for our national security.National Apprenticeship Day is a nationwide celebration established by the U.S. Department of Labor to recognize the importance of connecting individuals to meaningful careers and assisting employers in building a skilled workforce. This year National Apprenticeship Day moved to the spring, with its traditional weeklong celebration to resume in 2026.
HII Shipbuilding honored with MS Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence Award
HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division was recognized Thursday with a 2025 Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) award presented by Volunteer Mississippi in partnership with the Office of the Mississippi Governor. Ingalls received the corporate volunteering champion award, which recognizes private sector corporations and small businesses that implement employee volunteer programs with demonstrable community impact and that set community service as a core value and business strategy.
HII hosts HD Hyundai heavy industries leaders at Ingalls Shipbuilding
https://www.wxxv25.com/hii-hosts-hd-hyundai-heavy-industries-leaders-at-ingalls-shipbuilding/
HII hosted HD Hyundai Heavy Industries leaders at the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division Tuesday, advancing joint goals of the memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies earlier this month. The visit focused on identifying near-term opportunities and exploring the implementation of new processes that could support the acceleration of ship production.
HII recognized second year in row as 2025 best employers
https://hii.com/news/hii-awarded-as-one-of-2025s-best-employers/
HII (NYSE: HII) was recognized a second year in a row as one of top companies in the country for its exemplary commitment to advancing employee well-being through comprehensive and innovative benefits and initiatives. HII is among a group of 53 companies recognized today by Business Group on Health as a 2025 Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being Award winner. According to Business Group on Health, the 53 companies demonstrably enhanced the health and well-being of employees and their families through leading-edge initiatives. In addition, these companies have novel and impactful approaches focused on critical workforce issues, such as mental health and health equity.
Naval Shipbuilder HII Signs Agreement with South Korean Shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries
HII, the largest naval shipbuilder in the U.S., has signed a wide-ranging agreement with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries on Monday that could pave the way for collaboration, to include working on each other’s projects. The memorandum of understanding between the two companies is broad in its scope, “to explore opportunities to collaborate on accelerating ship production in support of defense and commercial shipbuilding projects,” reads a statement from both HII and Hyundai ahead of the Navy League’s Sea Air and Space symposium. “We’re open to wherever this relationship can take us, initially focusing on technology exchange and lessons learned, potentially component outsourcing, but open to wherever it can take us,” HII Ingalls president Brian Blanchette told USNI News on Monday.
Ingalls Shipbuilding hosts second annual Scouts Merit Badge Day
HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division welcomed more than 80 Scouts from Mississippi, Alabama, and as far north as Kentucky and Tennessee for its second annual Scouts merit badge day at the Ingalls Maritime Training Academy. The event, designed to inspire and support the next generation of leaders, provided Scouts the opportunity to explore shipbuilding career interests and gain hands-on experience in various technical fields found at Ingalls.
HII hosts US Marine Corps at Ingalls Shipbuilding
HII (NYSE: HII) hosted U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Eric Austin, deputy commandant for combat development and integration, fellow U.S. Marine Corps officers and Senate congressional staff at the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division Monday. During the visit, the group met with Ingalls leadership and received a tour of the shipyard, including two amphibious warships currently under construction, Bougainville (LHA 8) and Harrisburg (LPD 30). “Our Ingalls shipbuilders take immense pride in knowing that we are building the ships that protect our nation and support our U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette said. “This visit reinforced the critical role our shipbuilders play in supporting our military’s mission and we appreciate the opportunity to showcase our progress in delivering this amphibious capability to the fleet.”
Brian Blanchette: President of Ingalls Shipbuilding
https://msbusinessjournal.com/brian-blanchette-president-of-ingalls-shipbuilding/
For 85 years, Ingalls Shipbuilding has been contributing to the state’s economy as the largest manufacturing employer. The 11,000 plus employees build and maintain ships and cutters for the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Marines. At the helm of this large enterprise is Brian Blanchette, president of HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division since Jan. 1, 2025. “Ingalls plays a critical role in the local, state and regional economies by employing more than 11,000 individuals. We provide thousands of high-quality jobs, supporting not only our employees but also the surrounding communities through our supply chain and partnerships with local businesses. Ingalls’ economic impact extends beyond direct employment,” he said.