Gulfport, Miss. – Mississippi Power’s Economic Development department has been ranked as one of Site Selection magazine’s “Top 10 Utility Economic Development Teams in the United States.”

The department’s participation in corporate facility projects, job creation and renewable energy projects in south Mississippi were specifically highlighted by the magazine.

“Economic development is truly a team effort, and this recognition is a result of a tremendous effort by every member of our team and our partners across the state,” Mississippi Power President and CEO Anthony Wilson said. “Our team has more than 125 years of collective economic development experience and they are playing an important role in Mississippi’s future.”

This is the second time since 2008 that Site Selection has recognized Mississippi Power’s Economic Development department in its annual ranking.

In 2016, the department added a workforce development representative to better understand and promote south Mississippi’s skilled workforce to new and existing industry. The department also reviewed and certified nine industrial sites as Project Ready^TM across the company’s 23 county service territory last year.

“Our department’s mission of fostering economic growth and creating jobs in the communities we serve has remained the same for more than 90 years,” Mississippi Power Economic Development Director Brian Useforge said. “Building and strengthening relationships with state and local economic development agencies has prepared our communities to attract potential business partners and respond quickly to their needs.”

Mississippi Power’s Economic Development department partnered with several agencies to organize the Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium, aimed at showcasing the many aerospace and defense assets in south Mississippi. The department also continued to aggressively market the state of Mississippi in partnership with the Mississippi Development Authority’s statewide recruiting initiative, One Mississippi.

“Mississippi Power’s Economic Development team was involved in the announcement of more than 2,300 jobs and nearly $1 billion in potential capital investment in 2016,” MDA Executive Director Glenn McCullough said. “If a business is interested in locating or expanding in southeast Mississippi, the team at Mississippi Power will be a tremendous resource to help bring new career opportunities to Mississippians.”

Site Selection magazine is the top-rated U.S. publication covering facility planning and economic development.

Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for nearly 187,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Mississippi Power ranked first in the Southeast Electric Exchange’s 2016 Safety Performance Reports in all categories in which it participates – fossil/hydro generation, transmission and distribution, corporate and support, and total company – and is consistently recognized as an industry leader in reliability, customer service and safety. With nearly 105 megawatts of approved solar energy capacity, Mississippi Power is the largest partner in providing renewable energy in the state of Mississippi. Visit our websites at mississippipower.com and mississippipowernews.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube.

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