Mississippi Partners with Lumina Foundation to Launch FutureReady States Initiative

07/10/2025

Mississippi one of 12 states awarded funds to evaluate workforce training investments

JACKSON, MISS. — AccelerateMS, Mississippi’s lead office for workforce development strategy and coordination, today announced its participation in FutureReady States, a national initiative by Lumina Foundation to ensure that short-term credentials deliver strong economic returns for working adults and state economies. Through this initiative, AccelerateMS, will evaluate and enhance workforce training investments, aligning them with employer needs and labor market outcomes with support from Lumina.

“We are excited to join Lumina in this critical work around our state,” said Blaise King, director of workforce innovation at AccelerateMS. “The opportunity we have to shape and impact the people of Mississippi, in collaboration with our partners at the Mississippi Community College Board, is invaluable. AccelerateMS wants to ensure that we continue to evaluate and drive a substantial return on investment, not only for our state dollars, but for the individuals that make Mississippi the place that we call home.”

 FutureReady States is being launched to help states identify, strengthen, and scale training programs that lead to short-term credentials—such as certificates and industry certifications—with proven value in the labor market. It will support 12 participating states, including Mississippi, through strategic planning, technical assistance, and funding.

Participating states will:

• Evaluate existing investments in short-term credential programs.
• Identify opportunities to improve program effectiveness and accessibility.
• Develop metrics to measure outcomes such as job placement, wage growth, and continued education.
• Align education and workforce systems with local employer needs.

States with strong action plans may be eligible for additional implementation funding in a future phase of the initiative. Lumina has committed $2.2 million to support this initial phase.

The other states participating are Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. 

Each state will work with one of Lumina’s national partners— Business-Higher Education Forum,  Education Strategy Group, Jobs for the Future, National Skills Coalition, and The Century Foundation. Mississippi will receive guidance and resources to develop data-driven approaches to measuring success and improving credential quality.

“Millions of adults are looking for fast, affordable ways to gain new skills—and employers want talent today,” said Chauncy Lennon, Lumina’s vice president for learning and work. “FutureReady States can help states meet this moment by giving everyone a laser focus on what works.”

In Mississippi, the initiative will focus on opportunities that are high wage and in demand to drive economic opportunity and mobility for our citizens. These opportunities fall within fields that are tied to Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, Transportation, Distribution, Logistics, Energy, and Information Technology, to name a few.

Mississippi will work to ensure these programs:

• Are accessible and affordable for working adults.
• Serve underrepresented student populations
• Deliver measurable outcomes for learners and employers.

“Mississippi is committed to building a talent pipeline that works for everyone,” said King. “FutureReady States will help us make smart, data-driven investments that create opportunity.”

About AccelerateMS

AccelerateMS serves the people and businesses of Mississippi by developing and deploying workforce strategies to connect individuals with transformative, high-paying careers. By leveraging resources and partnering with organizations that hold complementary missions, AccelerateMS effectuates positive change, creating sustained individual, community, and statewide economic prosperity. 

About Lumina Foundation

Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. It envisions higher learning that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation’s talent needs through a broad range of credentials.