Posted on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008

South Mississippi in good shape for future
By LISA MONTI


Growth this year in the Gulfport-Biloxi metro area should "easily outpace" the national economy, says a new report by Moody's Economy.com.

The analysis of the area's strengths and weaknesses, prepared at the end of last year, said the economy in Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties "took a turn for the better, reversing course at the midway point" of 2007. The area's employment growth ranked first in the nation and projected third through 2011.

"Growth (in the metro area) will easily outpace the nation in the near term, as favorable demographic trends from individuals returning to the area drive the economic recovery," wrote Nathan Topper, the report's author.

Posted on Saturday, Feb. 02, 2008

Coast ranked 9th by Forbes
By MARY PEREZ


The Gulfport-Biloxi area ranks ninth on the newly released Forbes Top 10 list of fastest growing small metro areas in the nation.

Rankings were based on gross metropolitan product, a regional equivalent of the gross domestic product. The combined area of Hancock, Harrison and Stone counties is expected to grow 23.12 percent between 2007 and 2012 and the population should increase by almost 17 percent.
Brian Sanderson, director of the Gulf Coast Business Council, said this reinforces "what a lot of us on the Coast have known for some time - that what we have here is a good market, a good investment."

Posted on Feb. 29, 2008 - WLOX

Cochran, Barbour, Wicker Comment On Northrop Grumman/EADS Contract Win

Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Friday said the U.S. Air Force's decision to award its tanker contract to Northrop Grumman/EADS will lead to up to 2,000 jobs created along the Gulf Coast.

The $40 billion contract is for 179 tankers that Northrop Grumman/EADS will build in Mobile, Alabama. 
"This announcement is a huge victory for the Gulf Coast," Senator Roger Wicker said. "I've been a strong supporter of Northrop Grumman/EADS throughout this process and I commend the Air Force for making what I've always believed was the right choice for this contract." 

"This decision will lead to the creation of up to 2,000 Gulf Coast jobs," Wicker added.  "And while the    (continued)