The Big Buzz - September 2015 - The Shoofly Magazine

The Big Buzz - September 2015

9/1/2015

Bay St. Louis Brings Home Three Statewide Green Awards!

We're proud to announce the Cleaver won a statewide award for "Green" Communications! The MS Urban Forest Council recognized us at the state conference August 21st for our ongoing effort to raise awareness about urban forestry, beautification, and community gardening. For a look at a few of our regular "Town Green" columns, click here!

Bay St. Louis actually took home a total of three awards. Mayor Les Fillingame was named the state's 2015 "Green" Mayor, while Katharine Ohman, recent Cleaver "Good Neighbor" and the city's force of nature when it comes to beautification and community gardening, won an Outstanding Individual Award!

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Bay "Most Beautiful, Charming..."

In part, thanks to the city's ongoing beautification efforts, Bay St. Louis was recognized in August as one of the seven "Most Beautiful, Charming Small Towns in Mississippi." The article can be found on the Only In Your State website. Below are the reasons why!

This coastal community, with a population just over 10,000, exudes small-town charm all while offering the appeal of big city amenities thanks to Biloxi and Gulfport being in close proximity. Not only a beach lover’s paradise, Bay Saint Louis is known for its trendy old town area that offers shopping, dining, and, as of recently, a trolley service. After visiting the city, you’ll quickly see why Bay Saint Louis was named “one of the coolest small towns in America.”

Katrina +10 Press

Bay St. Louis got plenty of positive press over the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Below are a few of the stories:

Clarion-Ledger - by Lisa Monti: Bay St. Louis Makes a Comeback

NOLA - Crushed by Katrina, Mississippi's Gulf Coast rebuilds and rejoices a decade later

WDSU, New Orleans - Bay St. Louis bounces back after nearly being destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The Sip Magazine - Bay St. Louis: The Town Katrina Could Not Kill

WBIR - Knoxville: 10 Years Later: Return to Bay St. Louis

Clarion-Ledger, Jackson - Bay St. Louis Artists Say Thanks

Big Economic News for Hancock County
from Lisa's Notebook, by Lisa Monti

photo from PHI website

Some huge economic news came out of tje Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission in August. Here’s a brief look at the major announcements Executive Director Ashley Edwards made:

DAK Americas will invest millions of dollars in a new polyester staple fiber manufacturing facility at Port Bienville Industrial Park. The investment means 86 new jobs with average annual salary of $50,000. DAK’s Pearl River Site makes PET resins for bottling and packaging. The project is expected to begin operating in the second half of 2016.

PHI Inc., the helicopter services company, is making Stennis International Airport its new base for emergency operations for major oil and gas customer evacuations when tropical weather threatens the Gulf. “We decided to make Stennis International Airport our new base because of their outstanding facilities, strategic location and ease of doing business,” said PHI’s David Stepanek.

EmberClear Corp. and the Port and Harbor Commission have executed a lease-option agreement on a 150-acre site in Port Bienville Industrial Park for a new petrochemical plant. If constructed, the project would bring $1 billion in site work, infrastructure improvements, industrial facilities and machinery and more than 100 permanent jobs.

“We are working to develop a 3,700 metric ton-per-day natural gas to methanol project to be constructed,” said EmberClear President Raj Suri. “We have already acquired the necessary air permits, and we are raising the necessary funds for the construction. If all goes as per our plan, the site work, as a precursor to construction, can begin in the later part of next year.”