GULFPORT, MS (AP) — Bill Hessell can drop the interim tag from his job with the Harrison County Development Commission.
Hessell started at the HCDC in 2004 as interim director and became interim director again when Director Larry Barnett left for a job in Texas. He took over as fulltime director this month.
The HCDC is the lead economic development agency for the county.
The commission recruits new industry and business, as well as retention and expansion of existing business.
Hessell said the commission is undertaking a study to become more competitive and considering creating a public-private organization for economic development.
He already is working with the economic-development directors of Jackson and Hancock counties and Mississippi Power through the Mississippi Gulf Coast Alliance for Economic Development to promote South Mississippi.
"We know that if a company locates in any of the three (coast) counties it's going to benefit all of them," he said.
Hessell has a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed graduate work in public policy at Mississippi State University.
He has owned and operated an urban planning/real estate consultant firm and is a licensed real estate broker. He worked in Gulfport as planning director and urban development director.
