After only a few short months of completing the ACT Work Ready Community Boot Camp program in January, both counties in The Enterprise (Webster and Choctaw) met all of their goals to receive the ACT Work Ready Communities designation.
To receive this designation the National Career Readiness Certificate, also known as WorkKeys, had to be taken by three different segments of the population. Based off of local population, ACT generated goals for each county to meet in each segment. Choctaw and Webster County joined neighboring counties in east central Mississippi that have received this designation, which will help to market our workforce from a regional standpoint.
Manufacturing Training Equipment Delivered
The Enterprise of Mississippi thanks BK Edwards Welding and Fabrication for its assistance in transporting and unloading the new CNC machine at the Webster County Career and Technology Center.
This piece of equipment was purchased by Holmes Community College Workforce Development through the Appalachian Regional Commission EMPOWER Initiative.
The equipment will be used to support manufacturing careers by training high school students enrolled in career and technology programs, supporting local employers in training needs and offering training classes open to the public.
Brown Wood Preserving Expansion
Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley joined Atmos Energy, local elected officials, and representatives of Brown Wood Preserving to cut the ribbon on a new kiln at Brown Wood Preserving Co. on July 8.
Commissioner Presley, Atmos Energy and Brown Wood worked together to extend gas lines to the Brown Wood facility to get the needed natural gas to power the kiln, which is used in their tree drying process.
This cost for extending the line from existing Atmos Gas lines to Brown Wood, which is located south of Mathiston in Choctaw County, cost approximately $74,000. The overall investment from Brown Wood to build the new kiln was approximately $1.8 million.
“It is always a great day when the public and private sectors work together and have a positive result for everyone involved,” said Commissioner Presley. “Partnerships like these are one of the best ways we can work together to improve the lives of our citizens, by creating and keeping industry right here in Mississippi.”
ARC EMPOWER Initiative Kickoff Luncheon Held
Leaders from the four counties (Choctaw, Webster, Winston and Kemper) participating in the ARC EMPOWER Initiative gathered in Louisville on Aug. 8 to officially kickoff the multicounty workforce grant.
The event was attended by 80 guests including community college presidents from Holmes, East Central and East Mississippi, administrators from multiple school districts, county and city elected officials, congressional staff, ARC staff, multiple planning and development districts from the region, industry and community leaders. These parties and many more played a vital role in the initiation and implementation of the grant into each of the counties.
Lex Taylor, chairman of the board for the Taylor Group of Cos. Inc., was the guest speaker of the luncheon. Taylor emphasized the importance of skills training not only needing to start in career and technology centers, but as early as the eighth grade in Mississippi. Taylor discussed the value this grant would have on local manufacturing employers by helping to establish a trained and skilled workforce.
The main initiatives of the grant are to:
• provide the WorkKeys test to all graduating seniors for the next three years
• purchase manufacturing training equipment to be located at the career and technology centers in each county
• provide manufacturing basic safety classes
• provide skilled workforce training classes in each community
Industrial Property Funding Sought
In a recent tweet a site development consultant tweeted out “No Product - No Project” from @JayGarner1.
The Enterprise of Mississippi has spent much of 2019 focused on product development and funding improvements to industrial property. Recent accomplishments include:
completing and updating environmental studies on the Eupora Industrial Park through the Mississippi Development Authority’s Site Development Grant Program
• submitting a second MDA Site Development Grant for the Eupora Industrial Park requesting funding for an Industrial Access Road
working with the Eupora Board Aldermen and Golden Triangle Planning and Development District to submit a Small Municipalities and Limited Counties Grant application requesting funding for an industrial access road
• submitting a MDA Site Development Grant for the Red Hills Ecoplex to address drainage issues and begin grading a site
• obtaining legislative funding with Rep. Joey Hood for the industrial access road in the Eupora Industrial Park
• submitting ARC Southern Automotive Aviation Workforce application with the city of Eupora to extend water and sewer lines into the industrial property
We look forward to the installation of the new water and sewer lines at the Eupora Industrial Park and confirmation of funding to complete the industrial access road in the upcoming months.
Enterprise Earns Recognition at SEDC
The Southern Economic Development Council held its annual meeting in New Orleans on Aug. 4-7.
The Enterprise of Mississippi made its first submission to the SEDC Communication Awards competition, submitting the 2018 Annual Report. With over a 110 entries, The Enterprise’s submission received an Award of Merit in the small division.
Presentation Given to TVA Economic Development Staff
Executive Director Lara Bowman presented to TVA Economic Development staff on June 28 as part of the TVA Target Market Showcase. She presented an update and plans for The Enterprise and the communities represented in each county.
The-45 minute presentation focused on demographics, education and workforce development and livability. Education and workforce development was the main theme of this year’s presentation highlighting programming being implemented and inclusion of industry partners.
