Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves Wednesday delivered updates on Mississippi’s workforce development efforts and the progress of the AccelerateMS team. He announced the signing of House Bill 1517, and House Bill 1006 and signed Senate Bill 2723 during today’s event.
“Since I signed legislation creating the Office of Workforce Development, we’ve continued building a pipeline that will streamline the training of a next generation workforce,” said Reeves. “All this is happening through a comprehensive approach of legislation, coordination with local ecosystems, grant investments that are fueling skills-focused development, and more. From teacher pay raises to workforce investments, we are creating an environment that ensures our labor pool is prepared and equipped with the skills needed to take on the jobs of tomorrow.”
Reeves complimented the work that AccelerateMS had done to staff their team, award $16.6 million in Workforce Enhancement Training (WET) Fund special projects, and expand a range of technical training programs at community colleges across the state. He further noted that they had successfully categorized Mississippi into 8 regional “ecosystems” which would allow for tailored workforce strategies unique to the individual regions of the state.
A new technology pilot program called Good Job was also announced. It will utilize technology and machine learning to connect Mississippians with job opportunities.
This QR code can be used to access the new Good Job platform.
House Bills 1517 and 1006 guide ARPA dollars into workforce development efforts. It includes $32 million for direct training related to healthcare, emerging sectors, logistics, supply chains, and specific populations – such as veterans, those currently or formerly incarcerated, and single parents.
In addition, $20 million will be invested in healthcare training infrastructure and $8 million will be invested in career coaches.
Senate Bill 2723 offers greater flexibility for the use of Mississippi Works funds in order to better support local economic development needs. It will also increase collaboration between Accelerate Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Reeves delivered the updates and signed Senate Bill 2723 during a live video posted on Facebook. The full video can be watched here.
