October 2026
View the editionThe Coast Ahead, October 2026
New maritime milestones, the money visitors spend and the people building Coast businesses.
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September 2026
View the editionThe Coast Ahead, September 2026
Companies, investments and ideas shaping the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy.
Maritime and Blue Economy
A British maritime company is bringing 56 planned jobs to Port Bienville.
SubSea Craft will manufacture components for autonomous vessels in Hancock County. Operations are expected in spring 2027, with hiring planned through 2028.
October 2026 editionRead the storyData and Economy
A $3.63 billion visitor economy. A smaller workforce. Five numbers to know.
New tourism estimates, August labor data and announced maritime investments put the Coast’s opportunities in perspective.
October 2026 editionRead the story
Small Business
She never planned to build a bakery. Her customers had other ideas.
Customer demand turned Sandra Plainer-Molden’s love of baking into a flexible, family-run Pascagoula business. A storefront is not her finish line.
October 2026 editionRead the story
Maritime and Blue Economy
Ships, ocean drones and 166 planned jobs: Gulfport’s maritime bet gets real
Three companies are doing three different kinds of maritime work in Gulfport. Their investments could affect jobs, training and local business opportunities across the Coast.
October 2026 editionRead the story
Economic Development
The Coast has roughly 60 plans. A new framework finds their common ground.
The Gulf Coast Business Council is connecting existing plans around workers, housing, infrastructure and investment. Full findings are expected this month.
October 2026 editionRead the storyWorkforce
Unemployment fell to 3 percent. The Coast’s workforce got smaller, too.
August estimates show 4,582 fewer people working or looking for work in the Gulfport-Biloxi metro than a year earlier, even as employers added payroll jobs.
October 2026 editionRead the story
Tourism and Hospitality
Visitors spent $3.63 billion on the Coast. Hotels took only part of it.
New 2025 estimates put nearly $606 million of visitor spending in retail and $897 million in food and drink across Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties.
October 2026 editionRead the storyNo stories match that search.