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The
following is from the official mission statement for the Gulf Coast
Business Council: Mission Statement: The Gulf Coast Business Council will be the strong and united voice of business on public policy issues of importance to the MS Gulf Coast Region. Through leadership and collaboration on targeted strategic issues, it will promote and advance the economic vitality and quality of life of our region. The Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) will be an umbrella organization made up of the top business leaders in the three coastal counties along with member organizations initially including the Hancock, Harrison and Jackson County Chambers, and Partners for Stennis. These individual groups will continue their county/local programs of work benefiting their membership and communities. The county Councils of Government will be adjunct member organizations. The executive directors of the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport Authority, the three county economic development organizations, the State Port Authority at Gulfport, Jackson County Port Authority, the director of Stennis Space Center, and the coast military base commanders will be among those holding board positions. The GCBC will replace the Gulf Coast Economic Development Council and Coast 21 as functioning regional organizations. The GCBC will not compete with local chambers or their fundraising efforts. It will provide leadership in areas of public policy including governmental and legislative affairs, military and defense related industry, economic development, infrastructure, education and workforce development, and regional leadership development. This organization will be well positioned to help successfully implement initiatives from the Governor’s Commission Report for Redevelopment. It will work to align the interests of all communities in the three coastal counties and represent them with one strong and united voice in Jackson and in Washington, D.C. The GCBC will be governed by a Board of Directors made up of the top leaders from the entire business spectrum from across the coast. Funding will be provided through a dues structure applicable as appropriate to the Board of Directors. Board members will serve on focused and action-oriented task forces with specific objectives in support of the organization’s mission. Paid staff will include a president and the appropriate level of administrative support. It will retain high caliber, experienced individuals with a proven track record for coalition building and achieving results with salary commensurate with expected outcomes. Consideration will be given to creating a “Civic Service Center” in a central location along the coast to house offices of The Gulf Coast Business Council and other non-profit organizations. This organization will succeed with its regional agenda because of its focus on public policy and other strategic issues, its assemblage of the top business leaders in the three coastal counties as its board members, its action orientation, and its high caliber and professional staff to help guide its efforts. The Gulf Coast Business Council will be recognized as the voice of business for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region.
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