2025 MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT GUIDE VOLUME 10 2025 VOL. 10 MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT GUIDE Data Center Boom Comes to Mississippi Pg 282 MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT GUIDE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI LEADERSHIP 6 Business Climate Overview Changes to tax laws and regulations improve the Mississippi business environment. 10 Interview with the Governor Five years into his tenure, Gov. Tate Reeves has turned Mississippi into an economic juggernaut. 14 Interview with MDA Leadership Executive Director Bill Cork sheds light on state economic development strategy. 18 Statistical Profile Mississippi by the numbers. 20 Higher Education and Workforce How AIM UP, Talent Solutions and Career Coaches add up to a pathway to workforce success. COVER STORY – DATA CENTERS 28 AWS & Compass Data centers find their true north in Mississippi. 35 Governor Power Partnerships Gov. Reeves makes a bold Power Play for more energy in Mississippi. 40 Mississippi’s Power Profile From natural gas to nuclear power, the Mississippi energy equation gives the state a competitive edge. LEAD STORY – LET’S BREAK NEW GROUND 42 New MDA Campaign A groundbreaking branding initiative is turning heads. 42 28 20 10 CONTENTS TABLE OF4 MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT GUIDE FEATURE STORIES 47 International Trade Division Global trade missions and other efforts lead to a surge in exports. 50 FDI Division The Blue Economy is a driver for the Gulf Coast and a magnet for foreign fi rms. 54 Minority & Small Business Division With unprecedented success over the past few years, small business growth is here to stay. 58 Company Profi les From Liebherr in Tupelo to Avid Boats in Aberdeen, companies like what they fi nd in the Magnolia State. 62 Regional Spotlights Whether it’s the Mississippi Delta or East Mississippi, rural opportunities abound in the state’s non-metro areas. 69 Industry Spotlights Chemicals and forestry are two thriving sectors in Mississippi. 73 Transportation Network Come ride the rails with some of the world’s biggest logistics companies. 80 Certifi ed Sites Grants awarded by MDA pave the way for site development across the state. 85 Quality of Life From lower taxes to Welcome Home Mississippi, the state is doing all it can to elevate quality of life for all. 90 Photo Gallery Magnolia Majesty: A Pictorial Tour of Mississippi 47 69 54 73 62 85MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 5 ONLINE EDITION The publishers believe that the information contained in this publication is accurate. However, the in formation is not war ranted, and neither Conway Data Inc., nor Mississippi Development Authority, assumes any liability or responsibility for actual, consequential or incidental damages re sulting from inaccurate or erroneous information. PHONE: (770) 446-6996 • FAX: (770) 263-8825 • TOLL FREE: (800) 554-5686 email: editor@conway.com web: siteselection.com/issue/mississippi-development-guide-2025 This publication is published annually by Conway Data Inc. 6625 The Corners Parkway, Suite 200, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 USA. PRINTED IN USA. ©2025 Conway Data, Inc. ENJOY Read the digital edition on your tablet and phone. Click on links for even more information. SHARE Share the magazine on social media with your network and community. LINK Feature the magazine on your blog, website or newsletters with a link or one of our easy-to-use tools. siteselection.com/issue/mississippi- development-guide-2025 Cover design by Richard Nenoff Publisher/Director LAURA LYNE Executive Vice President RONALD J. STARNER Editor in Chief ADAM BRUNS Editor Emeritus MARK AREND Managing Editor KELLY BARRAZA Associate Editor ALEXIS ELMORE Art DirectorNEGIN MOMTAZ Production Coordinator/Designer BOB GRAVLEE Lead Designers SEAN SCANTLAND RICHARD NENOFF Designer ASHLEIGH PORTER Data Services Manager KAREN MEDERNACH Senior Research Associate BRIAN ESPINOZA Research Associate McKENZIE WRIGHT GLOBAL SALES & MARKETING Vice President of Sales CHARLES FITZGIBBON Regional Director — Northeast U.S. MIKE GLENNON Regional Director — Midwest U.S. CATHY McFARLAND Regional Director — Southeast U.S. MARTA RUSSELL Regional Director — Western U.S. PAUL NEWMAN Regional Director — U.S. MARGARET ROSE EuropeBRENDAN DOHERTY, +44 7999 786752 Japan HIROKO MINATO, +81 50 8882 3456 Korea CHUL LEE, +82 2 466 5595 Sales Administrator CHRISTI STANSBERRY Sales Development Representative BRE ROGERS BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Chief Financial Officer DEBBIE PORTER Accounting Associate DAVIS WILSON CIRCULATION Circulation Manager JULIE CLARKE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TEAM Director of Programming & Analytics DANIEL BOYER IT CoordinatorMARK BERTRAM Webmaster DANIEL MONAGHAN TAKE THIS GUIDE WITH YOU6 MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT GUIDE BUSINESS CLIMATE OVERVIEW by RON STARNER Gov. Reeves keeps removing barriers to entry for investors and workers. How Mississippi BUILT A MAGNET For Industry hen Dallas- based Compass Datacenters announced Jan. 9 that it would build one of the largest hyperscale data center developments in the Southeast in Meridian, Mississippi - a project that will generate $10 billion in new investments - the news only confi rmed what a lot of corporate executives and site selectors were already saying: Mississippi’s business climate is fi ring on all cylinders. Much like the Amazon Web Services’ $10 billion data center investment in Madison County, this project by Compass will create thousands of new direct and indirect jobs and add critical infrastructure to support businesses in Mississippi for decades. Assistance from the Mississippi Development Authority for site preparation and critical tax exemptions paved the way for Compass to build in Meridian in East Mississippi. The city of Meridian and Lauderdale County are also assisting the project, while Mississippi Power has committed to supply about 500 megawatts of power to the site. Corporate investment projects like these are not an anomaly in Mississippi. Since Gov. Tate Reeves took offi ce in January 2020, the state has secured more than $34 billion in new private capital investment, culminating in 2024 being the single greatest year in the history of the Mississippi economy, the governor noted. Signs of the economic progress are everywhere. According to data from the U.S. Department of W State Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi. Photo: Getty ImagesMISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 7 Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, Mississippi ranked No. 2 in the nation for real gross domestic product growth for 2024. The state’s GDP growth rate of 4.2% last year represents an increase of $1.27 billion from 2023. “The fact that Mississippi is No. 2 in the nation for real GDP growth shows how much momentum our state has,” said Gov. Reeves. “We’ve done the hard work laying the foundation for record-breaking economic success, and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. This is another big win for our state and the people who live here.” The state showed strong signs of growth in 2024 in several key sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. In fact, Mississippi had the No. 8 fastest growing manufacturing sector in the country last year, according to BEA. MDA Executive Director Bill Cork notes that “Mississippi’s outstanding GDP growth is proof that our state’s pro-business policies and strategic investments are paying off. With key industries like agriculture and manufacturing contributing substantially to that growth, Mississippi is creating new opportunities, strengthening communities and building long- term, sustainable economic momentum.” Cutting Taxes and Improving Schools Over the last five years, Gov. Reeves and his administration have made building a stronger business climate a top priority. To accomplish that goal, he focused on cutting taxes, eliminating bureaucratic red tape, investing in site preparation and site readiness, streamlining government agencies, investing new resources into workforce development and worker skills training, and overhauling the public K-12 education system. A decade ago, Mississippi fourth-graders ranked No. 49 in reading proficiency and grade-level attainment. Today, they rank in the top 20. The turnaround has been so dramatic that educational experts call it the “Mississippi Miracle.” Harry Anthony Patrinos, professor of education policy at the University of Arkansas, wrote for The Conversation that “this transformation was driven by evidence-based policy reforms focused on early literacy and teacher development.” He adds: “The rest of the country might want to take note.” The same could be said of Mississippi’s economic reforms. Never before has one state so dramatically improved its economic development performance in such a short time. Multiple rankings confirm this: “By staying true to our fiscally conservative principles, we’ve sent a message to America – and to the world – that Mississippi is open for business.” — Gov. Tate ReevesNext >