BILOXI, Miss. — Regional industry and workforce leaders from Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana came together on Thursday, November 6, at William Carey University’s Traditions Campus in Biloxi for the 2nd Annual Gulf Coast Defense Industrial Base Workforce Summit, reaffirming their shared commitment to building a stronger, more unified defense workforce pipeline across the Gulf Coast. […]
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AccelerateMS and Hinds Community College Forge Model Workforce Partnership to Power Mississippi’s Infrastructure Growth
JACKSON, Miss. – Nov. 7, 2025 – AccelerateMS, Mississippi’s lead office for workforce development strategy and coordination, and Hinds Community College, on Friday, established a strategic partnership designed to set a new statewide standard for how Mississippi supports new, expanding, and existing industries. The announcement, held at the Hinds Jackson Campus, was attended by local […]
AccelerateMS Launches Reconnect 2.0 Grant Opportunity to Expand Workforce Training
JACKSON, Miss. — October 23, 2025 – AccelerateMS has released the Mississippi Reconnect 2.0, offering $5 million in grant funding to expand accelerated workforce training opportunities across the state. The initiative seeks proposals from Mississippi’s local workforce areas, community colleges, and higher education institutions to provide short-term training—lasting up to eight weeks—in high-demand occupations, including […]
AccelerateMS Welcomes New Regional Workforce Project Managers: Ray Hollis and Dr. Deano Harrison
Beunkka Davis, Communications Specialist JACKSON, Miss. (Oct. 16, 2025) — AccelerateMS, Mississippi’s leading office for workforce development strategy and coordination, has welcomed two experienced professionals to its team: Carlton “Ray” Hollis, MBA, in north Mississippi, and Dr. Daniel Dean “Deano” Harrison in south Mississippi. Both will serve as workforce project managers with regional focuses aimed […]
Mississippi Transitions Workforce Grants to New Centralized System
JACKSON, Miss. – September 30, 2025 – AccelerateMS, in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, launched regional GranTrak sessions to help providers transition into the state’s new unified workforce grant management system. The sessions offered hands-on guidance to ensure providers were equipped to navigate the platform effectively. The transition marked an important step […]
Mississippi Industry Leaders Invited to Help Shape Workforce Strategy at ATLAS Roundtables
Beunkka Davis, Communications Specialist JACKSON, Miss. — September 22, 2025 – The Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) and the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) will host a series of ATLAS (Accelerated Training and Livelihood Aligned Strategy) Industry Roundtable discussions in partnership with AccelerateMS, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), and the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB). Industry leaders, […]
Career Coaches Unite for Catalyst ‘25, AccelerateMS Announces Career EDGE Platform
JACKSON, Miss. – September 19, 2025 – Career coaches from across Mississippi came together for Catalyst ‘25, a two-day workshop focused on professional growth, career pathways, and strengthening statewide collaboration. Hosted by AccelerateMS, the event emphasized skill-building, ecosystem coordination, and innovative tools designed to expand the impact of career coaching programs. “It’s awesome to see […]
Hands-On Program Boosts Local Careers
JACKSON, Miss. – September 17, 2025 – Twenty graduates completed the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Information Infrastructure Pre-Apprenticeship (I2PA) program this week at Hinds Community College’s Jackson Campus, gaining the skills and credentials needed to launch careers in Mississippi’s growing infrastructure workforce. The four-week, paid training program prepares participants for careers in the critical infrastructure […]
From High School Graduate to Lineman Success
Beunkka Davis, Communications Specialist ELLISVILLE, Miss. — September 16, 2025 – Colby Mills is an example of how dedication and vision can shape a future. In 2025, Mills graduated from South Jones High School while also completing the Jones College Jasper County Utility Lineworker Program, a rare accomplishment that launched his career in skilled trades and […]
SWIB Calls for Expanded Training, Apprenticeships, and Employer Partnerships
JACKSON, Miss. — September 15, 2025 — AccelerateMS, in partnership with the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB), is proud to release the Board’s most recent recommendations aimed at strengthening Mississippi’s workforce, expanding training opportunities, and preparing our state for the jobs of tomorrow.\ Between now and 2035, Mississippi will need to train 19,000 additional skilled […]