Southern Miss Economic Development

Southern Miss Economic Development We are driven by passion, determination and commitment to be a leading force in advancing global competitiveness through knowledge-led economic development.

Economic Development is the management of public-private investment collaborations to facilitate sustainable growth in the economy, typically measured by job creation, increased citizen wealth, a greater tax base, and improved quality-of-life. The mission of the University of Southern Mississippi Masters of Science in Economic Development Program is to be the leading graduate program in the nation

for educating US-based local/regional economic development practitioners who can wisely manage public-private investment collaborations to facilitate sustainable growth in the economy. Established in March 2010, the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship (TLNC) is the leader in economic development for the state of Mississippi and beyond our state’s borders.

Congratulations Toby!
05/19/2026

Congratulations Toby!

Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker is getting national recognition as part of the America 250 Celebration. ⬇️

Congratulations Ethan Jennings on being selected 2026 Outstanding Economic Development student.
05/04/2026

Congratulations Ethan Jennings on being selected 2026 Outstanding Economic Development student.

Great job Kevin!
04/30/2026

Great job Kevin!

The April Southern Miss Economic Development newsletter is here
04/30/2026

The April Southern Miss Economic Development newsletter is here

Email from Southern Miss Economic Development Get Inspired by Our Graduate Assistant's Journey and Achievements! Economic Development News Sponsored by the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence

Congratulations Blaine.
04/17/2026

Congratulations Blaine.

Meet the Board: Blaine LaFontaine 🚀 As Executive Director of the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, Blaine LaFontaine represents the intersection of space innovation, business, and industry within the Mission 3 ecosystem.

From NASA’s Stennis Space Center to maritime and logistics infrastructure, Blaine brings expertise in how space capabilities and regional assets can support defense growth. His role helps position South Mississippi to attract emerging aerospace and advanced technology opportunities.

Through his leadership, Mission 3 is better positioned to answer key questions like:
• How can we leverage NASA-Stennis and space capabilities to attract defense missions?
• What infrastructure investments support space and defense growth?
• How do we position the region for emerging space-related opportunities?

This work is essential to advancing South Mississippi as a leader in innovation and national defense.

The Trent Lott National Center wishes to recognize Student Worker Khara Walters for her outstanding work and dedication ...
04/15/2026

The Trent Lott National Center wishes to recognize Student Worker Khara Walters for her outstanding work and dedication to the center’s projects.

April 13-17 is National Student Employment Appreciation Week.

Khara is set to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. As she prepares to begin her career, she is exploring a range of opportunities within marketing, with a particular passion for event marketing and experiential campaigns.

Six students from the Student Economic Development Association (SEDA) at The University of Southern Mississippi recently...
04/06/2026

Six students from the Student Economic Development Association (SEDA) at The University of Southern Mississippi recently visited Baldwin County to learn more about the work of The Baldwin Alliance.

The group toured Baldwin Preparatory Academy, a hands-on career and technical training center, and visited the future home of Hatch Fairhope, a new small business incubator that will support local entrepreneurs.

Students also heard insights from economic development professionals, including Danielle Winningham of Steadfast City Economic & Community Partners.

Thank you to the Baldwin Alliance for hosting our group and providing valuable exposure to real-world economic development.

Bollinger Mississippi Shipyard gave TLNC Graduate Research Assistants a tour and discussion on an economic impact study.
03/16/2026

Bollinger Mississippi Shipyard gave TLNC Graduate Research Assistants a tour and discussion on an economic impact study.

02/03/2026

Congratulations Aggie!

Hotel development is important for economic development because it generates tax revenue (property, occupancy, sales) an...
01/31/2026

Hotel development is important for economic development because it generates tax revenue (property, occupancy, sales) and hotels act as community anchors that boosts tourism, supports ancillary businesses, and improves the area's overall attractiveness for future investment. Thus, a module on what economic developers should know about hotel development was added to the ED 665 Economic Development and Tourism course. For the on-line course, Casey Kidd, CEO of NaviRetail Inc., a leading development consulting firm that helps communities and developers attract, retain, and expand retail/healthcare businesses, created an Introduction to Hotel Development recording. The video along with quizzes, readings, and exercises (See+Hear+Do) prepares students to be successful economic developers.

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Hattiesburg, MS
39406

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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+16012666762

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