Starting a Business
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a great place to start a new business and the Coast Chamber is here to help you do just that! Below you will find helpful links to sites that will aid you in opening your business in Harrison County.
Harrison County Building Code & Permit Offices
Biloxi Building Code Office
676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
Biloxi, MS 39530
228-435-6270
www.biloxi.ms.us/formspermits/
Gulfport Building Code Office
William H. Hardy Building
1410 24th Ave.
Gulfport, MS 39501
228-868-5715
http://www.ci.gulfport.ms.us/buildingcode.shtml
Long Beach Building Code Office
P.O. Box 929
645 Klondyke Rd.
Long Beach, MS 39560
228-863-1554
www.cityoflongbeachms.com
Pass Christian Building Code Office
203 Fleitas Ave.
Pass Christian, MS 39571
228-452-3316
http://www.ci.pass-christian.ms.us/building_codes.html
Business Resources
Each business resource provides several types of professional assistance, such as mentoring, training and services to aid in a business.
The Innovation Center
Known as a business “incubator” that provides basic business services to start-up businesses; office and light manufacturing space, business counseling, access to shared services, office equipment, telecom/internet capabilities, and access to common areas. Great success rate in “graduating” successful small businesses!
228-392-9741 / www.innovatems.com
Gulf Coast Business Council
The Gulf Coast Business Council is the strong and united voice of business on public policy issues of importance to the Mississippi Gulf Coast region. Through leadership and collaboration on targeted strategic issues, it promotes and advances the economic vitality and quality of life in our region.
228-897-2020 / www.msgcbc.org
WIN Job Center
The Workforce Investment Network (WIN) in Mississippi is an innovative strategy designed to provide convenient, one-stop employment and training services to employers and job seekers. It combines federal, state and community workforce programs and services into physical locations and electronic sites.
228-539-6800 / www.wininmississippi.org
South Mississippi Contract Procurement Center
SMCPC provides assistance to Mississippi businesses in identifying and pursuing federal, state, and local government contracting opportunities through electronic bid matching. SMCPC also works with the business community in marketing themselves to these agencies, prime contractors, and other private and public companies. SMCPC assists businesses in becoming registered in CCR, ProNet, and ORCA, certified as 8(a), HUBZone, WBE, MBE, and any other programs of interest.
228-396-1288 / www.mscpc.com
Mississippi Development Authority
The MDA provides services to foster investment in Mississippi businesses and industry. Counseling and professional assistance is also provided. It maintains extensive resource materials including demographic data, industry reports, census statistics, as well as maintaining several databases pertaining to resources throughout the state.
228-523-4034 / www.mississippi.org
Mississippi Small Business Development Center
The Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center provides a variety of services to small businesses in the south six counties in Mississippi. Services include counseling, workshops, and information services. Resources that are available include business plan development, market analysis, capital sources, technology transfer, federal grant information and other managerial and technical support services. The GC SBDC is a partnership with SBA, the Mississippi Legislature and the University of Mississippi.
228-396-8661 / www.olemiss.edu/depts/mssbdc
Harrison County Development Commission
Created in 1958, the Harrison County Development Commission is the lead economic development agency for Harrison County, including the cities of Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi and D’Iberville. HCDC is committed to promoting Harrison County as a positive place to do business, to developing quality jobs for our citizens and to “Moving the Mississippi Gulf Coast forward.”
228-896-3355 / www.mgccc.edu
Service Corps of Retired Executives
SCORE is a non-profit organization of working and retired business managers/owners and other professionals who provide free and confidential business counseling and mentoring to entrepreneurs.
228-863-0054 / www.scoregulfport.org
Small Business Administration
The SBA provides guaranty loans to finance start-up and existing small businesses, disaster loans for commercial and residential property, and procurement programs such as 8(a) and HUBZone to help small businesses sell their goods and services to the Federal Government.
228-863-4449 / www.sba.gov/ms
Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District
The SMPDD operates various direct loan programs designed to finance new and expanding businesses that otherwise would not be able to obtain conventional financing. It serves the 15 counties in south central and southeastern Mississippi. SMPDD also provides some training and census/demographic information.
228-868-2311 / www.smpdd.com
State Resources
Mississippi State Tax Commission
www.mstc.state.ms.us
Mississippi Insurance Commission
www.doi.state.ms.us
Mississippi Secretary of State
www.sos.state.ms.us
Federal Resources
IRS Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource
www.irs.gov/businesses/small
Harrison County data
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28047.html
Manufacturers, Industry type, Location, Employee size
www.mississippi.org/manufacturers/advancedsrch.aspx