introduction

INTRODUCTION

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is well known for its tourism and
shipbuilding industries. Less well known is its role in the geospatial
industry, which is considerable and growing. It dates back to the 1960s
with the establishment of NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center, and
continues to this day as geospatial activities grow in importance.

South Mississippi's geospatial footprint has all the expected
characteristics: some of the biggest names in the industry have operations
here; it has a capable work force and training programs,
geospatial-focused technology parks, business incubators - the list is long.

But what may be more significant is the way it all "fits together."

Consider this: South Mississippi has leading-edge research and practical
experience with composites that go into aircraft; it has the plants that use
composites to make fixed-wing and rotary unmanned aircraft; it builds the
next generation of warships that will launch robot aircraft; it has the
satellite makers whose high-flying craft and remote sensors are key to
command and control as well as surveillance; it has the companies that
build the engines that power aircraft; it has the engine testing facilities.
As one defense company executive said: "I think you're finding our
futures really are coming together here in quite an unusual way."

With a high quality of life and low cost of doing business, the
Mississippi Gulf Coast has been a contender for some of the most
high-profile projects around. And it's now even more appealing, thanks to
the availability of major new incentives designed to help companies that
want to invest in the future of Mississippi and the Gulf Coast region.

Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast there are technology parks, business
incubators and technology transfer offices and work force training
programs, and perhaps just as important, there is plenty of room to grow
just outside the urban corridor.

South Mississippi offers a glimpse into the world of tomorrow.

Next: Part I Geography