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Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission Secures $1 Million SMIF Grant for Facility 2 at Port Bienville

  • Writer: Taylor Ladner
    Taylor Ladner
  • Feb 26
  • 2 min read

February 26, 2026

 

BAY ST LOUIS, MS – Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission (HCPHC) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Strategic Multi-Modal Investments Fund (SMIF). These funds are dedicated to the renovation of Facility 2, formerly known as the Solvay property, a 22,000-square-foot industrial asset located on Webre Road within Port Bienville Industrial Park. 

 

This funding follows HCPHC’s purchase of the site in 2025, which had previously sat dormant for fifteen years. By acquiring and now modernizing Facility 2, the Commission is continuing its successful "plug-and-play" strategy of rehabilitating legacy properties to attract new investment and high-quality jobs to Hancock County. 

 

The SMIF grant will facilitate a full-scale architectural and systems rehabilitation of the 7-acre site. Key upgrades to Facility 2 include: 

 

Full Architectural Rehab: A comprehensive modernization of the 22,000 square feet of heated and cooled buildings, including the main 10,000-square-foot complex and specialized warehouse spaces including roof upgrades. 

 

HVAC & Office Modernization: Installation of advanced climate control and ventilation systems throughout the lab and office areas to meet modern safety and operational standards. 

 

“The SMIF funds will allow HCPHC to renovate Facility 2 over the next 12 months and further enhance our ability to offer products like this facility to potential companies for future manufacturing looking to scale production in 2027.”
- Blaine LaFontaine, Executive Director of Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission.

 

Facility 2 offers significant logistical advantages, including proximity to 12-foot draft industrial canals for barge operations and access to the Port Bienville Shortline Railroad. The property features 2,400 square feet of executive office space, loading dock, a fenced perimeter with an electric security gate, and ample undeveloped land for future expansion. 

 

With these renovations, HCPHC is actively marketing the property to prospective tenants in the polymers, manufacturing, and defense sectors who can leverage the site's unique infrastructure and its proximity to Interstates 10, 12, and 59. 



About Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission   

  

As the county economic development authority, the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission is committed to fostering business investment and job creation. Their focus lies in attracting manufacturing, defense, aviation, and aerospace-related projects to the county. The organization manages the Stennis International Airport and Port Bienville Industrial Park, while also providing support to the Stennis Space Center, NASA’s leading facility for rocket engine testing.  

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