The rebuild at the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport (MSPA) is anticipated to create more than 5,400 direct jobs once the Port restoration is completed and the Port reaches its estimated capacity of one million TEUs. Currently the Port has approximately 2,100 direct jobs. Click here for a breakdown of current jobs and estimated future jobs by type/category/skill level.
It is also anticipated that after the rebuild, the Port will to generate an annual revenue of $10 billion in added personal income and $1.6 billion in direct revenue to the local economy.**
Almost all of the MSPA’s 700,000 square feet of storage was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. But currently only 400,000 square feet have been rebuilt leaving a need for more storage. The restoration will provide this storage.
Total cargo throughput continues to grow. In 2009 the MSPA handled more than 2.04 million tons of cargo (which compares to 2.4 million tons in 2004, prior to Hurricane Katrina), 198,900 TEU's, and 235 ships.
The MSPA had 10 operational berths prior to Katrina; nine are currently operational.
* Based on an estimated capacity of one million TEUs after the Port restoration is completed.
** Economic benefits from a similar project.