MS senate back to full strength

 JACKSON, Miss. - The Mississippi Senate is back to full membership (52) after Democratic Sen. Rod Hickman of Macon was sworn Dec. 9 at the state Capitol. Hickman, a lawyer, won the Nov. 23 special election runoff in District 32, which includes all of Kemper County and parts of Lauderdale, Noxubee and Winston counties. He succeeds longtime Democratic Sen. Sampson Jackson of DeKalb, who retired during the summer. Hickman will fill the last half of a 4-year term that ends in January 2024. (Source: The AP 12/08/21)

 Nov. 23 special election runoff in District 32, which includes all of Kemper County and parts of Lauderdale, Noxubee and Winston counties. He succeeds longtime Democratic Sen. Sampson Jackson of DeKalb, who retired during the summer.Hickman will fill the last half of a four-year term that ends in January 2024. S

3rd Miss. restoration draft

The Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group released its third draft restoration plan for public review and comment for 50 days through Jan. 26, 2022. The draft restoration plan includes about $19M for projects proposed for implementation to partially address the injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Proposed restoration activities include debris removal on federally managed lands, maintaining enhanced stranding network capacity for sea turtles and marine mammals, marine mammal bycatch reduction, bird stewardship, and recreational access and educational opportunities. See the draft plan and translated information, and learn more about the seven proposed projects >> Public comments Online: parkplanning.nps.gov/MSTIGRPII By mail to: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. P.O. Box 29649, Atlanta, GA 30345. The trustees will host a public webinar Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. [CT] where it will present the draft restoration plan and accept comments. Register for the webinar at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6376489461251797774. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the webinar. A GoToWebinar system check is recommended before attending. (Source: Gulf Spill Restoration 12/07/21)

CG rescues mariner in south La.

The Coast Guard rescued a mariner from a sailing vessel taking on water on Dec. 6 about 63 miles south of Marsh Island, La. CG Sector New Orleans received a cellphone call from the owner of the vessel, Bad Influence, stating it had lost power and was taking on water. The CG issued an urgent marine information broadcast, directed the launch of a CG Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and diverted a CG Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew to assist. The helicopter crew arrived and safely hoisted the mariner, who had a minor knee injury, and took him to Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport in Patterson, La., in good condition. (Source: Coast Guard 12/06/21)

Vertex completes Raytheon buy

MADISON, Miss. - Vertex Aerospace, a global provider of solutions for aftermarket aerospace services, and owned by American Industrial Partners, completed the acquisition of Raytheon Technologies’ Defense Training and Mission Critical Solutions Business Lines, on Dec. 7, according to the firm's website. Th transaction is to expand Vertex’s technology solutions and services, including defense and commercial training, mission critical support solutions, and engineering and modernization capabilities. "Our new mission critical offerings will further expand our relationship with the Department of Defense and government agencies," President/CEO Ed Boyington said in a statement, "and will provide access to new markets delivering state-of-the-art training to domestic and international equipment manufacturers.” To align with market and customer needs, Vertex will operate two reporting divisions: Aerospace & Defense Services and Technology & Training Solutions. ADS will include Vertex Aerospace business; and TTS will include the Raytheon acquired business lines. Vertex HQ will remain in Madison, Miss. (Source: Vertex Aerospace 12/07/21)

LNG's COVID Task Force awards

NEW ORLEANS - Nearly 21 months into the mission, the Louisiana National Guard held ceremonies across the state from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 to honor 800-plus service members for ongoing assistance to citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. After all that time, Brig. Gen. Cindy H. Haygood, Task Force COVID command, said: “I would never have imagined that we would still be here supporting this mission 20 months later. But with four surges (to a) new variant looming out there, we are still providing necessary support to the entire state.” Ceremonies were in Alexandria, Denham Springs, Hammond and New Orleans for the members of the task force. LNG members packaged 40.7M pounds of food, transported 61.8M pieces of personal protective equipment and more than 94,000 vials of vaccine, administered more than 492,000 COVID tests, and provided more than 179,000 vaccine doses. The service members earned various awards, including Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, Armed Forces Service Medals, Louisiana Legion of Merits, Louisiana Cross of Merits, and Louisiana Emergency Service Ribbons. Task Force COVID continues to provide daily support across the state, operating as many as 35 testing sites, 25 vaccine sites, and seven food banks. (Source: La. Nat'l Guard 12/07/21)

Mississippi Sidebar: The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) confirmed the first case of the COVID Omicron variant in state on Dec. 6.  The case is in a fully vaccinated individual that had recently traveled to New York. The patient was not hospitalized. 16 other states have reported cases of Omicron:  California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington. (Source: Super Talk Mississippi 12/06/21)

Airbus-Mobile job fair Dec. 9

MOBILE, Ala. - Airbus will host a hiring event on Dec. 9 for those interested in careers at the airplane maker's U.S. manufacturing facility in Mobile. Airbus will hold interviews with qualified applicants for openings in engineering, electrical, manufacturing, flightline, quality, logistics and corporate functions. Various levels of experience will be considered, including skills that are transferable from other industries. The job fair will be from 12 noon to 8 p.m. at AIDT, the Alabama Industrial Developmental Training Center, located at 1854 9th Street on the Brookley Complex off I-10. Attendees will be speaking with recruiters/hiring managers. Walk-ins welcomed. To apply for an open position online, visit https://bit.ly/30YpjvN. Masks are required. (Source: Fox10/WALA 12/07/21)

Pearl Harbor 80: Livestreamed

The National Park Service and Navy Region Hawaii, with the support of Pacific Historic Parks, are hosting a series of events through Dec. 9 as part of the 80th National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration to honor the 2,390 American lives lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of Oahu on Dec. 7, 1941. 80th Remembrance Ceremony: 7:40 a.m. (HST); 6:40 p.m. CST. About 150 WWII vets, including some 40 Pearl Harbor survivors, will be present at Kilo Pier for the main ceremony. Events will be livestreamed by the allhands.navy.mil.

HII starts fabrication of DDG 131

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss., officially started fabrication of the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131) on Dec. 2. Start of fabrication is the first opportunity to formally celebrate and reflect on the contributions of shipbuilders, according to Ingalls President Kari Wilkinson. “We are very proud of what we do here ... and activating what will be the newest Flight III destroyer,” he said. HII-Pascagoula has delivered 33 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction are Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129). The destroyer’s name honors a Korean War veteran and former POW, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while attempting to rescue a fellow service member. (Source: HII 1/056/21)

Dec. 15 GoM wind-farm workshop

With future development of offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico, federal regulators are beginning to assess how wind farms will affect commercial and recreational fisheries. On Dec. 15, there will be a workshop for GoM fishermen. The input to be gathered will help guide the planning and permitting of wind farm leases, and potentially lead to mitigation for fishers affected by turbines, transmission lines and related infrastructure. East Coast fishermen are concerned that a boom in wind farm construction will make fishing more dangerous. The country's first offshore wind farm, a five-turbine project off Rhode Island, was built with the assistance of Louisiana lift-boat operators in 2016. The Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM), which regulates offshore energy industries, has promised to improve and refine the wind energy leasing process, with greater input from fishers, before leasing begins in the Gulf in 2025. The Dec. 15 workshop is part of that process. BOEM stressed that the workshop is open to the public but attendees who are not fishers or associated with fishing industries are asked to listen only. Workshop registration and other information is available at boem.gov/renewable-energy/fishing-industry-communication-and-engagement. 

(Source: NOLA.com 12/04/21)

GTRA celebrates 50 years

COLUMBUS, Miss. - Fifty years ago, a group of people made a $2M investment to place an airport in Columbus. On Dec. 3, current business and government leaders gathered to celebrate the Golden Triangle Regional Airport’s anniversary. Today, GTRA is a $40M piece of property, and serves as a valuable resource for regional travelers. It gives access to anywhere in the world," says Executive Director Mike Hainsey. "It gives jobs to people at Airbus, Aurora Flight Sciences, (and) Stark Aerospace. "(W)e have so many other places we’re looking to go in the future,” Hainsey told WCBI. Depending on the landscape of COVID-19, GTRA will add additional services and larger airplanes, and is in discussions with Delta Airlines. (Source: WCBI 12/03/21) 

HII unions divided on contract vote

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Union workers at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding were divided over a contract extension that would increase wages 2.5 percent over the next three years. Almost 7,000 shipyard employees headed to the polls Dec. 2 to vote on the contract extension. Members of the Pascagoula Metal Trades Council voted to approve the contract negotiation. Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) voted no. Poll workers told WLOX the negative vote was close. The terms of the contract extension include a $2,500 bonus payment Dec. 16, and $2,500 in February. However, employees would not get a raise until March 2023 when salaries would see a 2.5 percent increase (about 70 cents). Healthcare and retirement plans would not see any change. IBEW has until March to renegotiate the contract and put it to another vote. (WLOX 12/02/21)

HGIM's timely emission monitoring

Harvey Gulf International Marine (HGIM) announced new environmental plans and major emissions reductions for its future. Harvey Gulf has also completed the conversion of its second Platform Supply Vessel, the Harvey Power, from a dual-fuel vessel to a tri-fuel vessel with a real-time emissions monitoring system. It’s the only real-time emissions monitoring system on a PSV in America. The system tracks, compares and analyzes vessel emissions for five different components: CO2, SOx, NOx, CH4, and water vapor. The system will initially monitor the quantity of emissions emitted while operating only on diesel fuel, running only LNG and combined with the use of newly installed battery power. No other company in America can do this, according to HGIM officials. The company will be providing a Renewable-LNG that has a low “Carbon Index” score and produce a blend of LNG that will yield fuel with a net zero carbon emissions profile. When using the fuels, Harvey Gulf’s customers will be able to show a certificate of fact to net zero carbon emissions. “Harvey Gulf is always listening to our client’s future needs and, unlike our competitors, we answer and deliver. In January, we will have the only fleet of vessels that will be operating in a net carbon neutral capacity,” Harvey Gulf CEO Shane Guidry said in a prepared statement. (Source: Work Boat 12/02/21) Harvey Gulf hits more ESG milestones | WorkBoat HGIM have corporate offices in New Orleans and Houston, and an operations facility at Port Fourchon, La.

Ex-Ingalls staffer named VP at HII

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Dec. 3 that Christie Thomas has been appointed corporate vice president of investor relations. Thomas, formerly the VP of contracts and pricing at the Newport News Shipbuilding division since 2018, will replace Dwayne Blake upon his retirement Jan. 1. In her new role, Thomas’ responsibilities will include acting as the primary interface between the investment community and HII focusing on helping to educate institutional investors and research analysts on the company's business strategy, operations and financial results. She will work with the finance, communications and legal teams to analyze financial results, develop earnings announcements, perform competitor and stock trading analysis and ensure compliance with all Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. Prior to serving as the VP at Newport News, Thomas was with HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division at Pascagoula, Miss., in 2006. She director-level positions in supply chain management, business management, business development, and contracts and pricing. (Source: HII 12/03/21)

Pascagoula 11% of radar pact

Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Marlborough, Mass., was awarded a $273,353,649 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed fee, and cost only modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-19-C-5501) to exercise options and add advanced radars detection laboratory generator support for Air and Missile Defense Radar; and Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, integration and production support efforts. Work will be performed in Marlborough (54%); Pascagoula, Miss. (11%); Moorestown, N.J. (9%); Newport News, Va. (6%); Kauai, Hawaii (5%); Wallops Island, Va. (4%); Fair Lakes, Va. (4%); Bath, Maine (2%); Chesapeake, Va. (2%); Portsmouth, R.I. (1%); San Diego, Calif. (1%); and Silver Spring, Md. (1%), and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion funds (Navy) in the amount of $14,060,000 (28%); fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,987,933 (23%); fiscal 2022 research, development, test and evaluation funds (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,466,143 (17%); fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,872,198 (13%); fiscal 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,465,420 (7%); fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,978,555 (6%); fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,195,424 (4%) and; fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $902,513 (2%) will be obligated at time of award, of which $2,978,555 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 30, 2021) (Source: DoD, 12/01/21)

EPA funds for water infrastructure

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the allocation of $7.4B in funding that states, Tribes, and territories will receive in 2022 through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This funding, provided through EPA’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, will create jobs while upgrading America’s aging water infrastructure and addressing key challenges like lead in drinking water and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. [Allotments for Gulf Coast states: Louisiana: $101,243,000; Mississippi: $74,899,000; Alabama: $137,030,000.] In a letter to governors, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan encouraged states to maximize the impact of water funding from the law - an unprecedented nationwide total of $50B investment – to address disproportionate environmental burdens in historically underserved communities across the country. The 2022 allocation is the first of five years of nearly $44B in dedicated SRF funding that states will receive through BIL. Administrator Regan recently completed a “Journey to Justice” tour across the South where he heard from families and advocates about struggles with exposure to water pollution. For children, exposure to lead can cause life-long health effects and academic achievement. For more information, including state-by-state allocation of 2022 funding, and a breakdown of EPA funding by SRF program, and additional funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/infrastructure.

HII delivers DDG 121

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) to the Navy during a signing ceremony Nov. 30. Delivery of DDG 121 marked the 33rd destroyer Ingalls has built for Navy, with four more currently under construction, including Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129). (Source: HII 12/02/21) 

Miz Sippi: Tupelo team & AL airport

By Rod Duren, Central Mississippi/Golden Triangle 

A Tupelo, Miss.-based construction firm is among the leading companies that could be part of a team awarded to build Mobile, Ala.’s new $252M airport terminal at the Mobile Aeroplex downtown at the former Brookley Air Force Base, and adjacent to passenger jet manufacturer Airbus.

The current airport serving the Mobile region has been located in the far western section of the county since before the AFB closed in the 1960s by President Johnson in a one-man base closure commission because Alabama didn’t vote for him in (the AuH2O) election in ‘64. The base closed in 1969.

Tupelo-based JESCO, Inc., subsidiary of The Yates Companies Inc., is in a joint venture with Volkert as part of a team the Mobile Airport Authority (MAA) selected Nov. 30, according to media reports, to be lead contractor for the new 8-gate terminal and parking garage within an already-established industrial and business park east off I-10, south of downtown.

The Mobile community had a major opportunity to establish a downtown airport after the AFB closed in the late 1960s, but went west. Now, six decades later, they’re coming to their senses.

MAA Prez Chris Curry will negotiate a price with the firms within 60 days and make a final proposal to MAA for the “transformational” project. Project completion is tentatively set for Fall 2024, according to AL.com.

The JESCO/Yates/Volkert team – from Mobile & Montgomery-based offices – was the No. 1 choice of five applicants to the MAA project. That team scored the highest in an MAA assessment laid out for the project, according to Curry via AL.com.

Curry called JESCO/Yates/Volker among MAA’s on-call consultants that have worked small airport system for about 15 years. 

Other companies involved include minority-owned Dortch, Figures & Sons, Inc.; AVCON, Inc.; FSB; HOK; and the Sunland Group., all of Mobile.

In a ‘State of the City,’ address this week, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson referenced the contracts proclaiming his wish to “build it with no debt” through city, county, state and federal government contributions.

The Mobile council voted in October to transfer $30M in general fund reserves to provide the first financial commitment to the project.

For years, Mobile has been trying to establish the city’s first-ever “international” airport downtown - next to Airbus’ largest North American manufacturing operations. In 2019, the West Mobile airport was the nation’s 165th busiest with 328,000 passengers over the year.

The objective, say officials, is to compete with Pensacola (Fla.) and Gulfport-Biloxi (Miss.) airports for direct flights, low fares, with low-cost carriers. 

The 75-year-old Mississippi-founded JESCO company has annual sales between $180M-$200M. JESCO has offices in Tupelo and Fulton, Miss; Mobile and Montgomery, Ala.; and Memphis, and employs about 750. Since 1999, JESCO has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Yates Companies, a perennial Engineering News Record Top 25 Contractor.

In recent years, JESCO’s Mobile office wrapped up a landmark project to build an on-campus football stadium for the University of South Alabama. Hancock Whitney Stadium is a 25,000 fan-capacity facility located on USA’s campus in West Mobile.

(Editor’s Note: This post is the next blog of 2021 for the Central Mississippi/Golden Triangle region. In deference to the Ole Miss, ‘Miz Sippi’ is a periodic post throughout the month(s) ahead. Invitations are open to businesses and individuals on send input, improve the blog and grow business product(s) here. Business ads are also available upon request via gcmilbiz@gmail.com.)

CG suspends search on MS river

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard suspended its search at approximately noon Dec. for a man overboard from the motor vessel American Queen near Baton Rouge. Rescue crews searched for more than 100 miles of the Lower Mississippi River for approximately 32 hours.

The Coast Guard is searching for a man overboard from the motor vessel American Queen around 2 a.m. on Dec. 1 near mile-marker 229 of the Mississippi River around Baton Rouge, La. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a radio call from the crew of vessel stating that a crewmember reportedly fell overboard, and they had launched a man-overboard rescue boat crew. The CG issued an urgent marine information broadcast and closed the Mississippi River from mil- marker 230 to 224 for deep-draft commercial vessels. Response crews searching include an MH-60 helicopter from CG Air Station New Orleans; 29-foot response boat from CG Station New Orleans; CG cutter Kickapoo; East Baton Rouge Sheriff's marine unit; and Louisiana State University campus police for shoreline searches. (Source: Coast Guard 12/01/21)

Navy unveils aviation unis for Army

 Navy football announced Nov. 30 it will wear specialty uniforms honoring naval aviation during its annual showdown with Army. Under Armour designed the “Fly Navy” uniforms, which recognizes the fighter jets the service utilizes along with the aircraft carriers that launch them. The 122nd Army-Navy game will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 11 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on CBS. The uniform highlights classic American symbolism and the multi-role fighter jet in air carrier aviation - the F/A-18 Super Hornet. On average, 300 Naval Academy graduates are selected annually to begin naval aviation training in order to become Navy pilots and flight officers. Initial training is conducted at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Three Navy senior football players received aviation as a service assignment - slotbacks Chance Warren and Daniel Taylor being commissioned as Navy pilots and kicker Ben Fee as a naval flight officer. (Source: Annapolis Capital Gazette 11/30/21) Navy football unveils aviation-themed specialty uniforms for showdown with archrival Army - Baltimore Sun

Ex-Stennis exec is space VP at LMT

Lockheed Martin (LMT) announced Nov. 30 that Robert Lightfoot will become executive VP of the Maryland-based company's space business. The appointment is effective Jan. 1. Lightfoot, currently VP of Operations for Lockheed Martin Space, spent 29 years at NASA in several critical leadership roles to support space operations, exploration and science missions, including as the agency's acting administrator; director of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama; and director of Propulsion Test at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. (Source: LMT 11/30/21) Lockheed Martin Names Robert Lightfoot as Space's Executive Vice President (spaceref.com)