< Previous28 M I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E N T G U I DE “For the first time in state history, this is a coordinated approach to workforce development like we have never seen before.” — Ryan Miller, Mississippi Office of Workforce Development and preparing students for careers in advanced industries. “We never really had to deal with these things before. As a state, we are still digging our way out of that time. We are emerging from COVID-19 and trying to assess the environment of people who want to work. Many businesses are screaming for people. We can be a resource to connect unemployed people to those job opportunities.” The silver lining of the pandemic? “We have some new tools that have emerged from COVID-19,” he says. “How we deploy training tools now is different than before. These tools can be much more accessible now due to the technology that is available. For example, I never saw my students again after spring break in 2020. We went straight to Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and other virtual learning platforms.” COVID-19 taught the state to be more creative and innovative, says Miller, who graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2002 and later earned a law degree. “We must be willing to try new ideas. For example, what resources are available to help single moms return to the workforce? How do we encourage people to pursue a career path that is much better for them? As a result, the state recognized the need for an office to coordinate workforce development — an office to create new partnerships with industry and recruit and retain talent. We needed to promote a healthy workforce with a strategy that looked at everything from top to bottom, left to right, and stem to stern.” Miller notes that Mississippi “has a lot of partners with this offi ce who are doing some great things to make sure that our workers receive the training they need to fi ll skilled jobs and pursue the most rewarding career paths. Many Mississippians have an unbelievable opportunity to receive incredible wages and establish generational wealth.” A state of 3 million residents, Mississippi has a workforce of approximately 1.267 million people. A sizable cohort — 136,534 — work for Mississippi’s 2,366 manufacturers. Miller says the state can convince even more manufacturers to set up shop in the Magnolia State if they would just consider the benefi ts. Mississippi ranks No. 2 among the lowest cost states for doing business, and it is one of 25 Right-to- Work states. Miller says the endorsement of his offi ce and its eff orts comes straight from the Governor’s Offi ce and Legislature. “Our offi ce has the support, encouragement and direction of the full state leadership,” he notes. “For the fi rst time in state history, this is a coordinated approach to workforce development like we have never seen before. We are working with the Mississippi Development Authority and private industry leaders. You will see Mississippi moving forward and moving forward quickly.” Even though he was just 5 weeks on the job when we talked, Miller says, “We hit the ground running. This is really an exciting time to be here.” 30 M I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E NT G U I DE hen solid rocket fuel innovator Adranos Inc. announced May 4 that it would expand its rocket motor research and development operations in McHenry, it was but the latest evidence that Mississippi had positioned itself as a national and global leader in R&D. After announcing last September that it would open a location in McHenry, Adranos revealed in May 2021 that it will invest $1.35 million and create 25 new jobs with this latest expansion. Located at the 640-acre, seven- building complex formerly occupied by General Dynamics, Adranos is testing next-generation rocket fuel. The fi rm cited the location’s proximity to Stennis Space Center and its compliance with all Department of Defense safety requirements for munitions handling as the primary reasons for selecting the site. Both the Mississippi Development Authority and the Stone County by RON S TA R N E R W How Mississippi Became a LEADER IN R&D R E SE A R C H & DE V E L OP M E N TM I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E N T G U I DE 31 Economic Development Partnership are providing fi nancial incentives for the building improvements. Once the 25 new positions are fi lled, the company will have 45 workers on site. “We are grateful for the continued support of Stone County and the state of Mississippi as we continue developing our high-performance solid rocket fuel,” said Adranos CEO Chris Stoker. “The McHenry location will provide us access to fi rst-class facilities and an exceptional talent base to enable the growth of our rocket motor research, development and production operations for years to come.” Gov. Tate Reeves welcomed the announcement by saying, “For decades, Mississippi has played a critical role in the nation’s space exploration eff orts, and innovative companies like Adranos continue to provide lucrative careers in this exciting fi eld to the citizens of our state. I am grateful for our partnership with the Adranos team and thank them for growing their workforce so even more Mississippians have the opportunity to be a part of the company’s innovative rocket fuel testing in Stone County.” UNIVERSITY HUBS BOOST INNOVATION Adranos is far from alone in using Mississippi as a launchpad for signifi cant R&D investments. Ocean Springs-based Skylar Laboratories made a $200,000 gift to the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi’s School of Pharmacy in September 2019. Half of that funding is going to the discovery of new medicinal properties in plants. Prior to that, Ole Miss had established a new center to advance translational science and engineering of graphene-based technologies — the Center for Graphene Research and Innovation. And across the state in Starkville, a $3.08 million grant from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center is advancing critical research at Mississippi State University in remote sensing and high-performance computing. MSU, by the way, was notifi ed June 4 that it ranked among the nation’s top 100 research universities and No. 1 in the state. Among all institutions in the National Science Foundation’s recently released Higher Education Research and Development Survey, MSU moved up six spots to No. 92 nationally with more than $264.5 million in R&D expenditures for FY2019, an increase of $20 million from 2018. An NSF top 100 research university for nearly two decades, MSU boasts 30 disciplines and subdisciplines ranked in the top 100 in the latest report. MSU also has reported an increase in R&D spending for six straight years, capping off a decade that saw MSU report $2.3 billion in total R&D expenditures from FY2010 to FY2019. MSU ranks in the top 15 nationally in both agricultural sciences (No. 12) and social sciences (No. 15). MSU has ranked in the top 5% of all universities for agricultural research for roughly 20 years. Also, the eighth year in a row, MSU leads all Southeastern Conference schools in social sciences research funding. MSU ranks fi rst in the state with 4,044 research personnel, including 605 principal investigators. Over the last 10 years, higher education R&D expenditures in Mississippi have grown from $443.6 million in FY2010 to $535.8 million in FY2019. In FY2019, the next largest R&D expenditures came from Ole Miss ($158.8 million) and the University of Southern Mississippi ($76.5 million). “For decades, Mississippi has played a critical role in the nation’s space exploration efforts, and innovative companies like Adranos continue to provide lucrative careers in this exciting fi eld to the citizens of our state.” — Chris Stoker, CEO, A I32 M I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E N T G U I DE ississippi’s Northwest region is a powerhouse for the logistics and distribution industry on the Mississippi River. Located within 500 miles of 70% of the nation’s population, Memphis, just north of Mississippi’s northern border, is the distribution capital of the United States. Touching five counties, including DeSoto, Tunica, Tate, Marshall and Benton, the Northwest Mississippi region is home to a skilled workforce serving various industries. Northwest Mississippi region is a central North American access point with multimodal transportation advantages. The NORTH AMERICAN GATEWAY by S AVA N N A H K I NG M Northwest Mississippi: R E G ION P R OF I L E : NOR T H W E S T M I S SI S SI P P I Tate Marshall Tunica DeSoto Benton Memphis MSAM I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E N T G U I DE 33 Memphis International Airport, the UPS Hub, 5 class 1 rail providers, and the Port of Memphis are easily accessible, allowing products to get to market quickly. DeSoto County is home to over 150 fulfi llment centers. Companies like Williams-Sonoma, Milwaukee Electric Tool, Synnex, McKesson have operated vital distribution facilities in DeSoto County for years. While tech giants Google and Amazon have recently invested in the region as well. Amazon launched its fi rst facility in Mississippi in Byhalia, Marshall County, in 2019 and a new fulfi llment center this August in Olive Branch. Google selected Southaven for its 60,000-sq.-ft. call center, which is expected to open this summer. In addition to its well-known logistical advantages, the region is attracting investment in sectors ranging from biomedical, e-commerce, food and beverage, material handling automation, primary metals and petrochemical manufacturing. In 2020, according to the DeSoto County Economic Development Council, nine companies expanded their presence in the area creating 2,942 new jobs, representing $590 million in industrial investments. Communities like Southaven, Hernando, Horn Lake and Olive Branch off er an aff ordable quality of life and ease of access to the Memphis metro area. Olive Branch earned the No. 35 spot in Money Magazine’s “2020 Best Places to Live in the U.S.” PHOTO COURTESY MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY34 M I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E N T G U I DE rop your finger in the middle of a map of the Southeast U.S., and you’ll point to Jackson, Mississippi. Greater Jackson is squarely located at the center of the southeast within 500 miles of approximately 39% of the country’s population and total personal income. The Greater Jackson MSA is home to 596,290 people and consists of Yazoo, Madison, Hinds, Rankin, Copiah and Simpson counties. The state’s capital city is located halfway between Dallas and Atlanta, making it a roughly six-hour drive to both major markets. The metro area is also within an approximately three-hour drive from Memphis, Mobile and New Orleans. Logistically, the region is well connected with rail access provided by Kansas City Southern, Interstates 55, 20 and 59, highways 80 and 49, three ports including the Port of Vicksburg, Yazoo County Port and Claiborne County Port and the Jackson-Medger Wiley Evers International Airport. D CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI’S CROSSROADS Jackson: R E G ION P R OF I L E : J A C K S ON by S AVA N N A H K I NG Hinds Yazoo Rankin Copiah Madison Simpson Jackson MSAM I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E N T G U I DE 35 Major aerospace fi rms including Eaton, Raytheon and L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace operate facilities in the area, boasting a large aerospace talent pool of more than 1,000. The industry has room to grow in the city with the Jackson Metro Aeroplex, an 896-acre site adjacent to the Jackson-Medger Wiley Evers International Airport, which off ers 458 acres designated for aerospace manufacturing and distribution with more than 200 acres providing access to two large runways. In addition to aerospace, the region’s most signifi cant industry clusters include freight transportation, retail, manufacturing, food and beverage production and construction. With seven colleges and universities in the metro area, including Hinds Community College, Jackson State University and Mississippi College, there is no shortage of talent. Hinds Community College is the largest in the state and off ers various programs aimed at preparing students to work in local industries. Given the city and region’s key position in the southeast, logistic giants UPS and Amazon have announced new facilities in the area. This summer, construction is expected to begin on a new UPS last- mile distribution center in Madison County. UPS announced in October 2020 it would build a $28.6 million facility in Ridgeland with plans to create 161 new high-paying jobs. In November, Amazon announced its plans to launch a new state-of- the-art fulfi llment center in Madison County as well, creating more than 1,000 new full-time jobs. “Madison County is elated that Amazon chose our community for its state-of-the-art fulfi llment center. Amazon is a globally recognized brand that will further strengthen the business- friendly environment and promote economic diversifi cation,” said Karl Banks, Madison County Supervisor. “Madison County welcomes Amazon as its newest corporate citizen and looks forward to the tremendous economic benefi t and employment opportunities it brings.” PHOTO COURTESY MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY36 M I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E N T G U I DE entrally located among Jackson, Gulfport-Biloxi, New Orleans and Mobile, Hattiesburg’s nickname of “Hub City” makes a lot of sense. Couple the city’s ideal location with its robust transportation network, and it is even easier to understand why Hattiesburg is the No. 1 city in the state for job growth. Home to approximately 148,000 people, Hattiesburg offers a lower cost of living and affordable housing, 29% lower than the national average. According to ESRI, Hattiesburg’s central location allows companies to draw from a surrounding labor pool of 147,496 within a 45-minute drive and 210,090 within an hour drive of the city. Compared to other major cities in the south, Hattiesburg has one of the highest percentages of millennials. With four colleges and universities, including the University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey University, Pearl River Community College, and Jones County Junior College, over 26,000 college students are within a 30-mile radius. According to the Area Development Partnership of Greater Hattiesburg, 88.85% of the greater metro area’s population (25 or older) hold at least a high school diploma. Nearly 30% have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Workforce C R E G ION P R OF I L E : H A T T I E SB U R G SOUTHERN HUB OF INDUSTRY Hattiesburg: by S AVA N N A H K I NG PerryLamar Forrest Hattiesburg MSAtraining programs like the Pine Belt Works Basic Manufacturing Certifi cate Program provide local industries and students opportunities. Additionally, the University of Southern Mississippi’s Polymer Science Engineering program and the Polymer Institute off er world- class polymer research and workforce training. Hattiesburg’s primary industries are centered around transportation, health care and education, military, hospitality, manufacturing and professional services. In recent years, the region has become a hub for green energy, with 150 MW on the grid from solar power. Kohler Power, a manufacturer of engines, generators and uninterruptible power supplies, is expanding its operation in Hattiesburg. The company has been manufacturing its products in the city since 1998. The new manufacturing line will encompass approximately 80,000 square feet of one of Kohler’s Hattiesburg facilities. Kohler will be expanding into an additional 187,000 square-foot space to increase its engine warehousing operations in the third quarter of this year, bringing the company’s manufacturing and warehousing space in Hattiesburg to more than 900,000 square feet. In March 2019, Kohler announced it was consolidating engine manufacturing operations from Wisconsin to Hattiesburg, creating 250 new full-time jobs in addition to the 350 workers already employed there. Kohler Power plans to fi ll the 75 new generator-manufacturing jobs later this year. The addition of the new jobs will bring the company’s total employment in Hattiesburg to approximately 800. “Kohler is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies. Originally recruited to Hattiesburg more than 20 years ago, it is now Hattiesburg’s second- largest manufacturing employer,” said Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker. “Kohler’s latest expansion announcement with 75 new jobs proves that it believes the Hattiesburg community plays a critical role in its long-term success. Additionally, this announcement continues to grow the advanced manufacturing sector in our local economy. Thanks to our partners at The Area Development Partnership for their leadership and foresight to help make this expansion a possibility.” M I S S I S S I P P I DE V E L OP M E N T G U I DE 37 PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT MISSISSIPPINext >