Sustainable Redevelopment of the Port of Gulfport - Spring

This capstone project evaluates how the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi, can be rebuilt and expanded after Hurricane Katrina in a way that is environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. Katrina’s destruction created an opportunity not only to restore damaged infrastructure, but also to rethink the Port’s future role in the regional economy and its relationship with surrounding communities, especially North Gulfport. The report was prepared for the Mississippi Center for Justice and examines how post-disaster rebuilding funds, including substantial federal Community Development Block Grant allocations, could be used to support a more resilient and equitable port development strategy. The team reviewed seventeen ports and identified best practices related to air quality, energy use, land management, water protection, climate adaptation, and community development, then distilled those lessons into a set of “Gulfport Green Guidelines.”

The report emphasizes that the Port’s restoration and proposed expansion, including a new connector road and major land reclamation, will shape both the environmental future of the Gulf Coast and the social and economic trajectory of nearby neighborhoods. It therefore recommends integrating sustainability criteria into port operations, logistics, infrastructure design, and community planning from the outset. The project also highlights practical funding opportunities, such as the Diesel Emissions Reduction Program, that other U.S. ports have used to retrofit equipment, reduce diesel pollution, and improve operational efficiency. By combining case-study analysis, environmental planning, and community-sensitive recommendations, the report presents Gulfport as a test case for how post-disaster reconstruction can support long-term resilience, economic competitiveness, and more just relationships between industrial infrastructure and the communities that surround it.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone Workshop.