News

September 8, 2025 JACKSON, Miss — The State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) is calling for stronger alignment between education and workforce in response to two recent data reports – (1) a new analysis of graduate work outcomes from each of Mississippi’s public colleges and universities (2) a report showing educational attainment levels of Mississippi public […]

9/5/2025 COLUMBUS, Miss. – Kressley Burgess has faced more than his share of challenges, but instead of letting them define him, he leaned on faith and determination to keep moving forward. Despite lifelong medical struggles, he never lost sight of his goal to graduate from high school, and in 2024, he proudly walked across the […]

JACKSON, Miss. — AccelerateMS proudly joins the nation in recognizing September as National Workforce Development Month, celebrating the vital role that skilled workers and workforce professionals play in driving Mississippi’s economy forward. The proclamation, issued by Governor Tate Reeves, highlights the importance of investing in our workforce to create a robust and resilient economy. Workforce […]

JACKSON, Miss. — Today, AccelerateMS recognized four individuals and groups for their outstanding contributions to Mississippi’s workforce efforts. Awardees were Cody Spence, Director of Career and Technical Education at East Central Community College; South Central MS Works; Justin Hall, Executive Director of the Marshall County Industrial Development Authority; and Frankie Adair, Site Executive for the […]

August 20, 2025  Beunkka Davis, Communications Specialist   JACKSON, Miss. – AccelerateMS is excited to introduce EnCORE, an innovative program aimed at connecting Mississippi’s highly experienced professionals with instructor, trainer, and mentor opportunities within the state’s workforce development framework. EnCORE: Calling Our Retired Experts seeks to develop a centralized pool of skilled individuals—especially those nearing or […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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, […]

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 […]