As March begins, we now approach a somber milestone: the one-year anniversary (March 11) of when COVID-19 first came to our community and the state of Mississippi. We have now experienced a full year of disruption - to our routines, traditions and interactions with other people. This February was a far departure from previous years, with no in-person Black History Month events and no Soul Food Celebration.

However, with this upcoming COVID anniversary comes hope. Each day, we see more of our neighbors, friends and family receiving their vaccine. Our hospital numbers have been decreasing steadily over the past month. Two weekends ago, the City, Hattiesburg Clinic and Forrest General sponsored a Vaccination Weekend at C.E. Roy Community. The response was overwhelming, as 500-plus vaccines were made available to underserved communities on a first-come, first-served basis. Vaccines - made available to all - are our most reliable way out of this pandemic. 

Of course, despite COVID-19, our economy has made significant progress. In the past couple of weeks, 24/7 Wall Street produced a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that analyzed job growth in the nation’s 400 metropolitan areas. Out of these 400 metro areas, only 28 saw job growth between February and November of last year. 

Hattiesburg did well in the rankings, ranked #2 in the country in job growth by percentage, seeing its employment increase 2.9% from February to November of last year. Furthermore, its labor force participation increased 4% during the same time period. 

We celebrate this milestone, but we cannot rest. In discussing this report with the Area Development Partnership, a few areas came into focus for me. 

1. We want to see our hospitality, tourism, restaurant and entertainment enterprises come back to pre-pandemic momentum. While many sectors continue to do well, COVID-19 certainly disrupted hotels and eateries. These businesses are cornerstones of Hattiesburg culture, and hopefully, the end of the pandemic signals a return of events and nightlife.  

2. Jobs in growth areas continue to be available, such as health care and manufacturing. However, many of our residents do not possess the skills and/or certifications to get those jobs. As a community, we have to connect employers with residents needing work and help equip citizens with the training and skills needed to become employable for these opportunities. 

That’s why the city invested some of its CARES Act money into a partnership with Pearl River Community College. Now is the time to put resources into our community’s human capital, so that our residents can go back, get the training they need and find jobs that can provide for themselves and their families. 

3. Finally, we must continue our efforts to diversify our economy. Aside from education, health care and military sectors, we must continue pursuing high-growth industries - particularly those that can help us recruit and retain young talent. High tech, advanced manufacturing and corporate headquarters can continue growing our economic base, which will, in turn, have spillover effects on retail and real estate. Further diversification will help us take the next step as a regional economic powerhouse. 

As we near this milestone, let us maintain our focus and discipline. Keep practicing social distancing, and keep wearing masks. While we wait for widespread immunization, let us do the things that are proven to work. We see the light at the end of the tunnel. Let us keep walking patiently and with purpose, and let us make sure that we all get to that light together. 

All the best,

• Upgrades Complete for Tatum Park Tennis Complex Ahead of Tournament
• Hattiesburg PD + City to Assist with Turbine Transport
• Hattiesburg Announces Gordon Creek Commons Development + $1.4M TAP Grant Funding
• Campbell Loop Bridge Construction Begins
• Three Voting Precinct Locations Updated to Align with County Elections
• Vaccination Weekend Clinic at CE Roy Community Center a Success
• Smith Named Hattiesburg Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year
• Hattiesburg Fire Department’s Recruit Class 2021-01 Begins Training
• City of Hattiesburg, Forrest General and Hattiesburg Clinic Host Vaccination Weekend Clinic at CE Roy Community Center
• Hattiesburg Executive Orders Continue, Closing Times Extended One Hour
• Hattiesburg Calling on Students to Name Fire Engine
• City Officials + Partners Cut Ribbon on E 6th Street Longleaf Trace Spur
• Fire Station #9 on Track to Open Spring 2021
• Workforce Training Agreement with PRCC to be Reviewed by Council
• Hattiesburg Tax Revenues Continue Trending Momentum
• MDAH Awards Hattiesburg with $35K Grant for Hawkins Elementary
• Judge Signs Consent Decree between City of Hattiesburg, EPA and MDEQ Over Wastewater System
• New Wayfinding Signage Unveiled in Downtown Hattiesburg
• Palmer’s Crossing Community to Get Splash Pad at Dewitt-Sullivan Park
• Food Truck Ordinance Up For Review by Council

MUNICIPAL ELECTION DETAILS

• Ward 1 – Highland Precinct: These voters will vote at the Longleaf Trace Gateway building, which is the same for every county, state and federal election. This facility is located at 2895 West 4th Street.
• Ward 2 – USO Precinct: These voters will vote at Eureka School, which is the same for every county, state and federal election.  This facility is located at 412 East 6^th Street.
• Ward 4- Kamper Precinct: These voters will vote at the Hardy Street Baptist Church Activity Building, which is the same for every county, state and federal election. This facility is located at 1610 Hardy Street.

Citizens affected by these changes have received notice by mail and will receive additional notification before the primary election in April and the general election in June.

The City of Hattiesburg is constantly in a state of improvement, whether it's paving roads, new water and sewer infrastructure projects or neighborhood beautification. Through this section, we'll give you a glimpse at the status of projects for our city. From issue to issue, newer projects will be listed at the beginning. You will also see the same projects listed in past issues but with notes for where the project currently stands.
 
Lamar Boulevard
The rebuilding of Lamar Boulevard is one of the more anticipated road projects in Hattiesburg’s recent history. After the lack of financial audits delayed funding for this project, the City worked hard to put its financial matters in order. With up-to-date audits, EDA and MDA approved grants that would install new sewer lines, drastically increase drainage capacity and rebuild the roadway with appropriate construction standards.

UPDATE: A pre-construction meeting was held with the contractor, and a notice to proceed has been set for April 5.

Public Safety Complex - The Building
In April of 2019, the City of Hattiesburg broke ground on its $26 million complex that will be the home to both the Hattiesburg Police Department and Municipal Court. For more information regarding the public safety complex facility, click here.

UPDATE: The facility itself is framed and 90% exterior work is complete. HANCO construction is working diligently to complete and will continue to work with Albert and Associates as the interior work begins. The total project completion status is approximately 70%.

Fire Station #9
In April of 2020, the City of Hattiesburg broke ground on Fire Station #9. 

This project began in 2018 with the announcement of a 3-mill increase for the Fiscal Year 2018 budget – one of which was obligated to pay for Fire Station #9. Since that time, city administrative officials have worked diligently to find a location, create specs that match the needs of the Hattiesburg Fire Department and navigate the design and construction bidding processes. 

The total cost for this project is $2.3 million, financed on a 5-year note, with debt service coming from the millage increase passed in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget. The estimated completion date for the project is March 2021, dependent on the weather. To learn more, click here.

UPDATE: Currently under construction. All of the exterior walls are up and the contractor is working on the completion of the interior work. The anticipated open for operation date is Spring of 2021. 

Hardy Street and Concart Street Drainage and Sidewalks Improvements
In early 2020, the City of Hattiesburg began work on both Hardy Street and Concart Street to improve the drainage and curb appeal between South 16th and South 17th Avenues.

UPDATE: The contractor has completed most of the drainage work along Hardy Street and has placed the lighting along Concart Street. They are currently placing sidewalks along both Hardy and Concart Streets. The expected completion is Spring 2021. 

Downtown Train Overpass - East and West
In February of 2020, Mayor Toby Barker was joined by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, members from Hattiesburg City Council and local and statewide officials to discuss Hattiesburg’s award of a CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements) Grant for $5.39 million in funding from the Department of Transportation to solve one of the city’s biggest transportation issues – blocked railroad crossings.

Comprehensively, the solution includes an extension of Hall Avenue in the form of an overpass for the Canadian National line, an additional spur for quicker transfers in the rail yard and a dynamic, digital messaging system to alert motorists for when a crossing is blocked. Learn more about that grant here.

That announcement was then followed by a fall-time announcement of Hattiesburg receiving a BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) Grant to the tune of $13.22 million, which would fund the western half of the overpass over Hall Avenue. Read more about it here.

Both of these grants will go toward the most transformative infrastructure project for downtown Hattiesburg, solving a decades-old transportation and public safety issue - blocked railroads.

UPDATE: The East Overpass, funded by CRISI, is currently in the design phase, with a projected groundbreaking for late summer. 

The West Overpass, funded by BUILD, is currently under contract negotiations with design engineers. This has to be completed before moving into the design phase. 

Gordon's Creek Commons - Phase 1
Mayor Toby Barker and city officials were joined by the Transportation Commissioner for the Southern District Tom King on Thursday, Feb. 25 to announce the receipt of $1.4M in grant funding which will be used to lay the structural foundation needed for a new development – Gordon’s Creek Commons. [Read More]

Located between Hardy Street, McLeod Street and Pine Street, along the west bank of Gordon’s Creek in Downtown Hattiesburg, Gordon’s Creek Commons will include:

• a series of 6-ft and 8-ft concrete pathways and connection points to surrounding areas;
• an entrance gateway plaza near Pine Street;
• two wooden boardwalks;
• a bridge with handrails over Gordon’s Creek;
• shade structures on each side of the bridge;
• lighting; and
• four seating areas.

With 46,377 residents, the City of Hattiesburg includes approximately 25% of property that is located within a special flood hazard area (SFHA). The vast majority of homes and businesses within this area are older, low-lying and built prior to the FEMA flood designations; however many of these properties have been elevated due to reconstruction that came after devastating tornadoes in 2013 and 2017.

Additionally, several areas outside of the SFHA also pose a concern, as they are subject to flash flooding during intense rainfall. Because of these factors, it’s important that homeowners and renters know the potential damage flooding can bring and how they can prepare for such.

As a central location of resources, we invite you to check out the following three links: