Charles Bearman

The Strategic Plan for Visit Mississippi outlines a roadmap to enhance the state's tourism industry, focusing on attracting visitors, shaping its global image, and boosting economic impact. The plan is structured around five key imperatives: Amplifying Mississippi's Stories, Enhancing the Visitor Experience, Destination Development, Educating, Empowering, and Supporting stakeholders, and achieving Organizational Excellence. The overarching vision is to establish Mississippi as a preferred destination for vibrant cultural heritage and unforgettable experiences.

This 2025-2030 Implementation Plan serves as a practical roadmap to activate Visit Mississippi's 2025-2028 Strategic Plan. It translates the strategic intent into structured, time-bound, and actionable work, guiding day-to-day decisions, clarifying responsibilities, and tracking progress. The plan outlines a three-year phased approach focusing on five imperatives: Amplify Mississippi Stories, Enhance the Visitor Experience, Destination Development, Educate, Empower, & Support, and Organizational Excellence, aiming to promote and enhance the state through global marketing, creative collaboration, and leadership.

This document provides a 2025 strategic update for MDA, reviewing its performance and mission to be a nationally recognized leader in business retention, recruitment, trade, tourism, film, energy, asset investment, grant administration, military affairs, and small business development. It highlights progress and achievements across these key domains, including capital investment, job creation, and economic impact, leveraging data primarily from 2020 through 2025.

The Visit Mississippi Strategic Plan, developed in collaboration with Coraggio Group, outlines a five-year roadmap to position Mississippi as the preferred destination for vibrant cultural heritage and unforgettable experiences. Its mission is to promote and enhance the state through global marketing, creative collaboration, and leadership. Key imperatives include amplifying Mississippi stories, enhancing the visitor experience, destination development, educating, empowering, and supporting partners, and achieving organizational excellence, all aimed at driving a dynamic tourism industry that uplifts communities and inspires visitors worldwide.

The meeting involved discussions and voting on various projects, including those related to airport authorities, pellet mills, community centers, industrial parks, and downtown redevelopment. The board reviewed projects, assessed their scores, and voted on whether to continue considering them for recommendation. Specific projects included the Gulfport Biloxi Regional Airport Authority Airport Project, Guthrie Pellets Piney Wood Pellet Mill, Hancock County Assault Landing Strip, and others. Additionally, there was a discussion about reconsidering projects and gathering additional information for the next meeting.