Economic Impacts of Coastal Restoration in Coastal Mississippi and Alabama

Sector Definition

The coastal restoration sector is included in NAICS (2014) code 237990 or “Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction”.

  • This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in heavy and engineering construction projects excluding highway, street, bridge, and distribution line construction.
  • The work performed may include new work, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repairs.
  • Specialty trade contractors are included in this group if they are engaged in activities primarily related to engineering construction projects excluding highway, street, bridge, distribution line, oil and gas structure, and utilities building and structure construction.
  • Construction projects involving water resources, e.g., dredging and land drainage, development of marine facilities, and projects involving open space improvement, e.g., parks and trails are included in this industry.

Gross Regional Product in the Five Coastal Counties of Mississippi and Alabama 

  • The gross regional product (GRP), also called regional gross domestic product (GDP), is the market value of all goods and services produced within a given area over a specific period of time and is a good measure of the size, income, and productivity of a regional economy (EMSI, 2021).
  • The GRP of the five coastal counties is shown in the chart below.
  • In recent years, the GRP of the sector is about $70 million annually.  

Source of raw data: EMSI (2021). 

Direct Employment Impacts in the Five Coastal Counties of Mississippi and Alabama 

  • The number of workers and owners of these establishments is shown in the chart below.
  • The sector employed over 800 workers and owners during the past seven years. 
  • Wages, salaries, and earnings hovered around $50,000 per worker and owner in recent years.  

Source of raw data: EMSI (2021). 

Economic Impacts of MASGC Research, Education, and Outreach Programs in the Five Coastal Counties of Mississippi and Alabama

  • Many programs of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) targeted coastal restoration in the region.
  • The chart below shows the estimated economic impacts of these programs during the past seven years.
  • It was assumed that MASGC programs supported only one percent of workers and owners.
  • Annual economic impacts of MASGC programs were computed by multiplying the number of supported jobs by annual WSE. 
  • The recent economic impacts of MASGC programs for coastal restoration could be over $400,000 annually.