Institutional Legacy as the Driver of Port Development Strategy

Numerous East and Gulf Coast ports are undergoing expansions based on the prospect of increased cargo from the expansion of the Panama Canal. The Port of Gulfport in Mississippi is one of these port projects. This commentary explores how and why Mississippi decided to make a huge public investment in port infrastructure. An historical approach is used to explore the factors that led to the investment decisions. The need for economic development and competition from neighboring ports were found to be legacy factors driving the decision-making. The lessons from the case include the need for effective public relations, to understand market forces that impact port success, and to consider how seaports influence economic development in the metropolitan region and state in which they are located.