Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission Breaks Ground on Stennis Technology Park

KILN, MISS: Clearing of the 20-acre Stennis Technology Park is underway at Stennis International Airpark. Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission broke ground on Phase I of the Stennis Technology Park in early July 2024. Phase 1 includes the construction of a 10,000-square-foot facility to accommodate the expanding operations of the Department of the Army's Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (JALBTCX), which has outgrown its existing incubator space at Stennis International Airport.

JALBTCX, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, and NOAA, has been vital to the Stennis International Airport community for over 15 years. Their expertise in airborne lidar bathymetry - a cutting-edge technology for measuring water depths from aircraft - is invaluable to coastal management and research. The new JALBTCX facility will house advanced research and development laboratories and office space for the growing team.

Funding for Phase I of the Stennis Technology Park was made possible through a $4.6 million grant from the RESTORE Act in 2021 and a $2 million dollar grant from Gulf Coast Restoration Funds. This investment will not only support the relocation and growth of JALBTCX but also lay the groundwork for future development within the aerospace technology cluster. The technology park is envisioned as a multi-building complex designed to meet the evolving needs of current and future tenants at Stennis International Airport.

"After years of anticipation, this project is the start of several planned phases of development which will help existing tenant expansion and offer future sites for new industry and technologies to create a unique cluster at Stennis International Airport.," said Blaine LaFontaine, Executive Director of Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission. "We are thankful for Governor Reeves and Mississippi Development Authority for the support and funding to make this concept a reality."

Stennis Technology Park Phase I is set to be completed in late 2025, with Phase II starting in early 2025. This phase will include site improvements such as clearing, fill material, utility extensions, parking lots, and road extensions.

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About Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission
As the county economic development authority, the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission is committed to fostering business investment and job creation. Their focus lies in attracting manufacturing, defense, aviation, and aerospace-related projects to the county. The organization manages the Stennis International Airport and Port Bienville Industrial Park, while also providing support to the Stennis Space Center, NASA's leading facility for rocket engine testing.