JACKSON, Miss. – AccelerateMS has officially announced the relaunch of the Mississippi Reconnect Program 2.0, a bold initiative designed to re-engage unemployed and significantly underemployed Mississippians through accelerated training and career-connected learning in high-demand industries. The program will begin accepting applications in October for early January program start dates. “Mississippi Reconnect is more than a […]
News
From Fiber Training to Dream Career: Robert Burgess’s AWS Journey
Robert Burgess of Madison, Mississippi, never imagined where a simple web search would lead. Working for a low-voltage installation company, he searched “fiber training Mississippi” and discovered an AWS pre-apprenticeship program that would later transform his career path. “A year ago, this was nowhere near my radar,” Burgess reflected. Now, he’s an Assistant Superintendent with […]
AccelerateMS Fuels UMMC School of Nursing Expansion in Oxford with ARPA Support
Beunkka Davis, Communications Specialist JACKSON, Miss. — North Mississippi’s future nurses are now learning in state-of-the-art classrooms and labs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s (UMMC) School of Nursing in Oxford, thanks in part to funding provided by AccelerateMS through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The major renovations, celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this month, […]
Christina Shores Joins AccelerateMS as Executive Assistant
Beunkka Davis, Communications Specialist JACKSON, Miss. – AccelerateMS, Mississippi’s lead office for workforce development strategy and coordination, welcomes Christina Shores as Executive Assistant. In her new capacity at AccelerateMS, Shores will play a pivotal role in supporting innovative workforce development initiatives across the state, collaborating with partners to ensure that Mississippi’s talent pipeline remains strong, agile, […]
Career Coaches Return in Greater Numbers This Fall
JACKSON, Miss. — Starting this fall, more Mississippi high school students will receive personalized guidance to help them navigate their future careers, thanks to an expanded team of career coaches stationed across the state. Through a strategic statewide initiative, 209 career coaches will be serving students in 204 schools, serving as a crucial bridge between the […]
How Lean Training Is Changing Careers and Companies in Mississippi
07/21/2025 HATTIESBURG, Miss. – When Mississippi industries seek practical solutions to strengthen operations and workforce skills, the Lean Manufacturing Certification program delivers results beyond expectations. To ensure more companies and employees benefit from lean training, Pearl River Community College (PRCC) recently hosted the program in the Gulf Coast region. Bo Worley, industrial business developer at PRCC, said […]
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 […]
AccelerateMS Welcomes Melissa McCoy as Instructional Designer
07/02/2025 JACKSON, Miss. – AccelerateMS, Mississippi’s lead office for workforce development strategy and coordination, is excited to announce the addition of Melissa McCoy as Instructional Designer to its Talent Solutions Team. With more than 30 years of experience in leadership development, organizational growth, and instructional design, McCoy brings a proven track record of building high-impact […]
Made in Mississippi: Talent, Training, and Tomorrow
06/10/2025 JACKSON, Miss. – What if education didn’t just prepare students for the future—but actively created it? Across Mississippi, work-based learning is doing just that. By combining classroom knowledge with real-world experience, students are finding purpose, while employers are building the talent pipelines they need to grow. From internships and apprenticeships to job shadowing and hands-on […]
Building Mississippi’s Rural Healthcare Future
05/01/2025 HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Momentum is building in Mississippi, and the Institute of Primary Care at William Carey University is proof. With its launch, the state takes a bold step toward strengthening healthcare access, training a new generation of doctors, and ensuring that every Mississippian, regardless of ZIP code, has access to quality care. The […]