Impact & Economic Development

The Center for Logistics, Trade and Transportation (CLTT) is answering the call for economic development and support of Mississippi's transportation infrastructure. Former Govonor, Haley Barbour said in his State of the State address: "We need creative thinking if we are to meet our transportation needs, especially job creation."

Mississippi Advantage

A combination of factors puts The University of Southern Mississippi, the CLTT and the state in a unique position to meet the growing transportation industry need:

• Geography           
  • Located in the fast-growing Gulf South
  • Proximity and access to major U.S. population centers in the "Texas Triangle," Piedmont Atlantic, Florida and Midwest
  • Water gateways to Canada and Latin America markets
• Mississippi's extensive transportation infrastructure:
  • a roadway network ranked fourth-best in the nation and best in the South, putting the state within a day's drive of 55 percent of the U.S. business and major population centers
  • an extensive network of 20 rail systems covering 2,841 miles
  • seven airports ranging from international to regional - and proximity to three additional major airports in New Orleans, Memphis and Mobile
  • 800 miles of commercially navigable waterways - the Mississippi River, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and deep-water ports at the Mississippi State Port at Gulfport and Pascagoula
  • Five U.S. Customs ports of entry and three foreign trade zones
• "Port of the Future" - a $570 million redevelopment of Gulfport that eventually will make it the Gulf of Mexico's largest shipping facility
• Panama Canal expansion accommodates more and larger container ships

Industry Support

The CLTT stands ready to offer the services and support that the private and public sector need.

More than 75 percent of respondents to an industry survey indicated the need for employees with a master's degree. USM offers a graduate program in Logistics, Trade, and Transportation.

The CLTT will provide special studies and applied research for:

• the government and military
• transportation hubs such as ports and airports
• carriers - railroads, trucking companies, shipping lines, barge companies, airlines
• shippers - chief executives and managers specializing in supply chain, logistics, and transportation, storage and distribution