Heat about Job Creation at State of the Port

The Port of Gulfport continues to be a major economic hub for the Coast. Future goals were announced during the 2017 State of the Port Address. However, things got a little heated when the subject of job creation came up.
Applause echoed through the room of over 300 people as Port of Gulfport Executive Director Jonathan Daniels wrapped up the 2017’s State of the Port address, updating the community with all the current business going on within the port, job creation, and the past accomplishments surrounding the $570 million expansion project.
Not everyone was satisfied with the progress report. Howard Page with the Steps Coalition said, “You promised people since Hurricane Katrina that when you took disaster recovery money that you were going to create jobs that were going to help with the recovery.”
Community activist Howard Page’s concern is with the permanent 1,300 jobs the port promised when the project began. Now half of the $570 million is spent and with original plans to complete the project a couple years back, Page is not impressed with the 425 jobs the port has implemented so far and the new 2018 date for the post-Katrina project’s completion. “Every time we have one of these meetings they keep on pushing the date back, checks in the mail kind of thing,” said Page.
Daniels says a delay in federal funding, weather, and construction are rational explanations for the wait. “It’s not perfect. It’s not a perfect plan. Whenever you’re trying to build something that’s $570 million strong you’re going to have issues. You’re going to have changes midstream.”
Daniels revealed to the audience results of the more than $300 million spent, pointing out milestones in the port’s recent success like acquiring Chiquita and major progress in construction. Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes says the entire look of the port has changed in the last few years. “New structures down there with the Chemours that used to be DuPont. You’ve seen the new cranes.”
While the date for the 1,300 jobs may have been postponed, construction companies working to further the project at the port have hired hundreds not counting toward the job creation requirement. “The jobs are an evolving process. It’s something that continues to improve,” said Daniels.
Daniels says future success for the port will only get stronger.