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Sponsored by The Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship
In This Issue
Alumni
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Upcoming Events
Governor's Energy Summit October 8, 2014. Learn More
Alumni Homecoming Tailgate November 8th, 2014 at 2:30pm
13th Annual Southern BioProducts and Renewable Energy Conference November 13th, 2014
MEDC 2015 Winter Conference February 4-6, 2015 at the Hilton Hotel, Jackson, MS Learn More
Save the Date for the dedication of Scianna Hall Thursday, April 30, 2015.
Job Openings

President, Economic Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce, Jones County, MS...

 

Regional Economic Enterprise of MS

Choctaw, Montgomery, & Webster Counties 
is seeking 
Executive Director..View Position

East Arkansas Planning and Development District searching for
Economic Development Manager. View Position
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September 29, 2014
Yazoo County Formalizes Economic Development Plan
Leadership in Yazoo County recently undertook a county-wide economic development planning process under the guidance of Yazoo County Economic Development Board.  Executive Director, Whitney Hurt, stated,  "Our economic development board recognized that Yazoo County has unique assets that could attract job and business growth if we created a county-wide leadership team to focus on our future. We needed a more formalized plan that would get us aligned and moving forward in the same direction, so we sought USM to assist." The leadership team requested USM's Trent Lott Center economic development team to facilitate the planning process and provide a written report of the plan.  The initial steps included an evaluation of the county's assets, an analysis of the region, and identification of potential areas of economic growth over the next 3-5 years. The leadership team will use the plan as a guide for implementing its growth strategies.
2015 True South Basic Economic Development Course Date Set

Over 55 practitioners from 5 states and MSED students participated in the 2014 IEDC accredited True South Basic Economic Development Course at USM's Trent Lott National Center.  Expert speakers including Jay Moon, former Chair of IEDC, and Skip Teaster, retired Community Development Director at the University of Georgia, shared expertise in the fundamentals of economic development. Will Hearn, CBRE Senior Vice-President of Strategic Consulting, served as keynote speaker at the True South Awards Luncheon . The class took a field trip to visit the Hattiesburg Industrial park, tour Stion Corporation, and learn about historic Hattiesburg downtown revival. The winner of this year's Ray and Jimmie Heidel Economic Development Leadership Award went to Jen Dearman, Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Pascagoula. Sponsors for this year's event were Mississippi Power Company, Mississippi Development Authority, North Louisiana Economic Partnership, Mississippi Gulf Coast Alliance, Area Development Partnership, Mississippi Economic Development Council, Jones County Economic Development Authority, and Glory Bound Restaurant.

 

SAVE THE DATE!  Next year's True South course will be Monday, September 21 through Thursday 24, 2015, and registration will open up in the spring. 

First Workforce Legislation Reform in 15 Years 

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law on July 22, 2014 and is the first legislative reform in 15 years for the United States public workforce system. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.  DOL, in collaboration with the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, are coordinating a series of meetings and virtual webinars for workforce system partners and stakeholders to seek input throughout the implementation period. A live webinar was hosted on September 23rd from Washington DC.  USM's Human Capital Development Program coordinated a viewing session and dialogue exchange for stakeholders along the gulf coast. Feedback from the session was gathered to share with DOL officials.  For more information about WOIA, visit http://www.doleta.gov/wioa/

Manufacturing Day Set for October 3, 2014

Manufacturing Day has been set for Friday, October 3, 2014.

Manufacturing Day gives manufacturers an opportunity to raise and address awareness by simply exhibiting what they do to visitors curious about manufacturing.

 

On the first Friday in October of every year, hundreds of manufacturers across the nation participate in Manufacturing Day by hosting open houses, public tours, career workshops and other events. Through this collective effort, Manufacturing Day draws public attention to manufacturing's present-day reality and encourages job seekers to develop the skills they need to qualify for long-term careers in this secure and growing sector of the economy.

 

Gov. Phil Bryant has proclaimed the week of Sept. 29 through Oct. 3 as "Manufacturing Week in Mississippi." View the proclamation  here.

 

This effort is co-produced by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), Manufacturing Institute (MI), National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), guest producer Industrial Strength Marketing (ISM), official media partner Science Channel, and movie partner American Made Movie.

 

To learn more about or become involved with Manufacturing Day, click here

 

*Source: Mississippi Manufacturing Association

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Hattiesburg, MS 39401-0001

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