Hancock County businesses hope to create 2,300 jobs after survey

Officials are trying to bring more career opportunities to Hancock County.
After results from a ten month survey on industrial companies, county services and tourism sector businesses, Hancock County officials are set on developing an action plan on how to create more jobs and make the county more tourist friendly.
More than half the company leaders participating in the survey say they’re aiming to invest $248 million in future expansion projects and hope to create 2,300 new jobs. Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission CEO Bill Cork said, “What we wanted to do is look at real data. What do these companies really say are the strengths and weaknesses? So, we kind of eliminate the coffee house chatter and get right down to real data. I think the real benefit now is that we have a very narrow set of issues we can concentrate on that are supported by what the community and industry really demands.”
The data collected is part of a business retention and expansion program started up by the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission.