Gulf Coast development and investment opportunities subject of June forum

Leading development and investment opportunities on the Katrina-ravaged Mississippi Gulf Coast will be the subject of a forum to be held in Biloxi, Miss., on June 7 - 10.

Organized by Discovery Investment Events, investment event specialists, the Biloxi event will focus on the Mississippi Gulf Coast's needs for quality affordable housing and mixed-use development in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Investors and developers from around the country and overseas have been invited to meet with local and state public officials and community leaders to get a full overview of the scope of the need and the opportunity in the region.

"When people think about the devastation of Katrina, they often just think of New Orleans," notes Frank Yacenda, event organizer. "The media have not done nearly the job presenting the incredible devastation along Mississippi's coast, most of which remains un-rebuilt nearly two years after the storm despite significant progress made."

Hurricane Katrina destroyed or damaged more than 173,000 housing units in Mississippi, including some 71,000 rental units. Housing in the affordable range is critical to bringing back workers to carry out the massive rebuilding yet remaining and also to staff growing manufacturing, service, hospitality, and casino industries all along the Gulf Coast.

Speaker sessions will include presentations by city mayors and county economic development officials from all across the Mississippi coast. All three coastal counties of Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson, as well as inland George County, are expected to be represented. Other presentations by state officials, speaking on Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) tax and bonding benefits, and representatives of affordable housing advocacy, volunteer, and faith-based groups, will give a full picture of the opportunities on the coast.

Event sponsors in related fields, such as finance, insurance, and construction, also will exhibit and meet one-on-one with participants.

"We've put together an exciting program to give participants all the relevant information they will need to make informed investment and development decisions," Yacenda said. "In three days they'll meet decision makers, learn about the potential, see Katrina's devastation and the long-term need, visit numerous sites all across the Coast, and sample the great local color."

Participants will get two full days of site visits to a diverse collection of properties that include raw land, restorable apartment complexes and homes, and high-profile commercial tracts.

Said Yacenda, "We've done our homework to make participants' task easier. They will be able to sign deals, set up contacts with potential joint venture partners, and offer or find finance."

The all-inclusive program cost is $1,497, with an early-registration discount to $1,347 for registrations received by May 18. This cost includes everything except airfare to the event.

Discover Investment Events is a trade name and division of Alpha Opportunities International, Inc. A Wyoming corporation, the company' operational headquarters are located at 2434 Pass Road, Suite E, Biloxi, Miss., where it also operates Gulfstaff LLC and GulfstaffExecutive, its personnel staffing divisions; telephone +1 (228) 385-8848 or toll-free (877) 385-8848. Call the company's Biloxi office, email events@alphaopportunities.com, or visit www.alphaopportunities.com/discovery_events_main.htm for program and registration details.

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