News

10/24/2023 AccelerateMS career coaching strategy aims to move Mississippi forward JACKSON, Miss. — If you’d like to learn about the rapidly growing new strategy in Mississippi that’s connecting high school graduates with rewarding futures, the new AccelerateMS website at coaches.acceleratems.org is a perfect starting point. As the state’s lead workforce development office, AccelerateMS has worked with community-based […]

10/12/2023 Career coaching is one of the most challenging yet rewarding jobs I have ever held. You work at the school, but you do not work for the school. You expose students to different careers but do not technically teach a class. You are stepping into a building where people wonder what you are doing […]

10/05/2023 JACKSON, Miss. — To improve the quality of the healthcare workforce across Mississippi, $3 million has been awarded to five hospitals and health networks throughout the state to grow physician residencies and fellowships. The Physician Residency and Fellowship Start-Up Grant Program, created by Senate Bill 3113 in the 2023 legislative session, is aimed at […]

10/03/2023 COLUMBUS, Miss. – Helping Columbus High School students challenge themselves to achieve goals they didn’t think were possible has been the most rewarding aspect of Jim Sutherland’s job as a career coach for AccelerateMS, the state’s lead workforce development agency. “Students need to believe in themselves and have a can-do mentality,” Sutherland said. “The […]

09/26/2023 JACKSON, Miss. — The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) named Suzy Bowman, Ecosystem 2 Workforce Coordinator, to participate in the 2023-2024 class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a free leadership and economic development training opportunity for individuals currently living and/or working in one of ARC’s 13 Appalachian states. The 2023-2024 class comprises a diverse network […]

09/21/2023 JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi won’t be held back by a workforce gap in trade skills if Collyn Leggett has anything to do with it. As an AccelerateMS career coach for Northeast Jones and West Jones high schools, she’s building connections between students and community employers while promoting pathways to in-demand careers in Mississippi. “Students […]

09/14/2023 JACKSON, Miss. — Nearly a dozen community colleges in Mississippi have been awarded over $2 million to help retain nursing students to completion while assisting in the exploration and evaluation of their career options. The Mississippi Allied Health College and Career Navigator Grant Program was funded in the 2023 legislative session with $28 million […]

08/24/2023 JACKSON, MS — Today, AccelerateMS recognized three individuals and groups for their outstanding contributions to Mississippi’s workforce efforts. Awardees were the FORGE Your Path Career Expo, Mississippi State University Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension’s Industry 4.0 Skills Accelerator (i4SA) Program, and the Workforce Director at South Delta Planning and Development District, Mitzi Woods. […]

07/25/2023 JACKSON, Miss. — More career coaches will be engaging with Mississippi high school students this fall to help them discover successful paths into the workforce. The State of Mississippi has revved up its efforts to connect students with industry leaders with over 50 new coaches throughout the state, increasing the total for the 2023-2024 […]

02/22/2023 WATER VALLEY, Miss. – It takes the talents of more than 30,000 educators to teach and guide students in Mississippi across the graduation finish line. Now, a small—but rapidly growing—number of career coaches are preparing them for life after earning their diplomas. AccelerateMS, established legislatively in 2020 as Mississippi’s lead workforce development office, has […]