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 […]
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AccelerateMS Recognizes Workforce Champions for 2025
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 […]
EnCORE Connects Skilled Mississippians with Meaningful Roles in Workforce Training
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 […]
AccelerateMS Announces “Mississippi Reconnect Program 2.0” to Boost Employment and Workforce Skills
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 […]
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 […]