< Previous98 WORKFORCE 2024 W ith no property taxes or zoning, as well as various incentives from the federal government that support economic development in Native communities, companies can reap a plethora of benefits when doing business with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI), the only tribal community in the state of Mississippi. “I’ve heard people say that they can do something with us in 30 days that would take them two or three months in their home communities,” says John Hendrix, the MBCI’s director of economic development. “Tribes offer a unique set of advantages, so if you think about it from the state’s perspective, it just gives them another tool in the tool belt.” On August 18, the tribe announced a new recruitment asset, the Choctaw Employment Advantage. Through by LINDSAY LOPP NATIVE AMERICAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT The Benefit of Doing Business with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Incentives and a skilled workforce invite opportunities for corporate expansion on Native lands. This story originally appeared in the November 2023 issue of Site Selection magazine. WORKFORCE 2024 99 this incentive, commercial tenants leasing Choctaw buildings are eligible for rental discounts when they employ tribal members. “We’ve structured it so that for each group of fi ve tribal members that they hire, they get a $ discount off of their rent. ere’s no requirement that they hire anybody in particular. It’s just an incentive that encourages them to do so,” explains Hendrix. With this incentive, the MBCI aims to attract a list of target industries based on the skillsets of its workforce, including wood product manufacturing, fabricated metal manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, industrial building construction, food manufacturing and textiles. Currently, there are , MBCI members, with , participating in the workforce as well as , workers available in the regions near Choctaw land, which encompasses more than , acres across counties in east- central Mississippi. Building Skills to Bridge the Gap Even without the nudge from this incentive, business leaders who hire Choctaw members want to be confi dent that the tribe’s pipeline of workers is equipped to meet their companies’ employment needs. Prior to this announcement, upskilling of the workforce has been a primary focus for the MBCI. Over the last few years, tribal leaders and offi cials have diligently worked to expand skills training and educational opportunities for its members across all levels. For those interested in obtaining a college education, the MBCI off ers the Tribal Scholarship Program, giving members access to pre-college counseling, guidance with admissions, housing and fi nancial aid applications as well as fi nancial assistance with tuition. e tribe has also partnered with Mississippi College, located in Clinton, to create a tuition assistance program for Choctaw students. e MBCI has previously collaborated with a handful of local universities and community colleges on educational programs for its members, including East Central Community College, the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi. “We’re investing around $. million a year in scholarships for tribal members. We now have our fi rst medical doctor, We’re designing the space with the hope of being more future- proof … e intent is to try to stay on the cutting edge.” — John Hendrix , Director of Economic Development, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians We’re designing the space with A Mississippi State University Choctaw Preview Day in April 2022 ended with stickball practice at The Junction in the heart of the MSU campus in Starkville. Photo by Michaela Parker courtesy of MSU Extension Service100 WORKFORCE 2024 we’ve got physical therapists, we’ve got lawyers. We’re slowly building a professional class among the next generation, [though] that’s not to say that all people are doing that,” explains Hendrix. “The common example is that you’ve got somebody in their 20s or 30s that did not go to college and they’re working for the tribe, but they really don’t have any skill sets. So, what we’ve been doing is carving out time to upskill the existing workforce. “We have 3 million square feet of buildings, we have dozens of maintenance employees, so we have been setting up classes, four hours per week, for existing tribal employees to go get their HVAC certification or their electrical certification or their industrial control certification,” he says. “And so upskilling existing employees or adults that didn’t do the college route has been a really successful initiative that we’ve had and led to the new Advanced Workforce Training Center.” In August 2022, the MBCI received a $5.8 million federal grant to create the Advanced Workforce Training Center. With this grant, the tribe plans to transform a 45,000-sq.-ft. facility into high-tech classrooms dedicated to skills training. The center is set to offer programs in vocational technical skills — such as HVAC, plumbing, industrial controls and welding — as well as healthcare programs, including CNA and LPN, and pathways in IT and cybersecurity. “We manage a very large IT network just within the tribal operations,” Hendrix says. “We’ve got a 12-station computer lab where we’re doing CompTIA certifications, we’re doing cybersecurity awareness for our 2,000 employees with email addresses, we’re doing Microsoft tools training.” The center will also feature a makerspace outfitted with top-of-the-line equipment such as CNC routers, 3D printers and laser etchers to bring the community up to speed on digital fabrication and Industry 4.0 practices. With these resources the Advanced Workforce Training Center aims to not only address skills gaps but ensure that the tribe stays ahead of the curve as new industries continue to emerge. “We know where we are going to start on day one, Graphic courtesy Choctaw Office of Economic Development WORKFORCE 2024 101 we know the classes were going to offer, but we’re designing it so that it’s flexible. We’re building in flexible utility infrastructure in our technical labs. Technology is moving quickly, so we want to be able to swap out one of those rooms for some new major, maybe robotics or something that comes along later,” explains Hendrix. “I would say we’re designing the space with the hope of being more future-proof. We’re just going to continue to add new curriculum and new courses, replacing the ones that wear out over time. The intent is to try to stay on the cutting edge.” Creating Connectivity Steps to achieve this goal stretch into multiple development sectors throughout Choctaw lands. The tribe’s recent undertakings — including constructing affordable housing, renovating its middle school and high school and evaluating the possibility of installing renewable energy sources — were all created with the mission to close the skills and opportunity gaps Native communities often combat. All in all, this portfolio of projects is upskilling all facets of life and business on the reservation. “Literally this month [September] we will have completed the deployment of broadband to every house on the reservation,” says Hendrix. Through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Project, MBCI partnered MaxxSouth Broadband to connect more than 2,000 unserved Native households, 86 businesses and 60 community anchor institutions with fiber-to-the-home 05 Mbps/105 Mbps service. This achievement was made possible due to an $8.43 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). With this funding, the Tribe was able to construct a 12.3-mile, middle-mile fiber network, a 524 last-mile network and a new Tribal Utility Department building. “With many school, business and service operations now being conducted online, the need for broadband internet access is more important than ever,” said Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben in a press release. “Access to adequate internet service in some Choctaw Tribal communities is limited at best. We recognize the need and have been making great strides to provide solutions for tribal households.” “Whether it’s just making households comfortable using the internet and all the things that you can do with the internet or enabling people to actually work from home and be part of the gig economy,” adds Hendrix, “I think it’s going to enable a lot more development.” (ABOVE) Tribe members participate in cybersecurity training. (INSET) The Carthage Industrial Building 1, located in Carthage, Mississippi, is one of the properties currently available on Choctaw Lands. Photos courtesy of Choctaw Office of Economic DevelopmentThe Benefi ts of the Valiant Veteran Top U.S. companies look to harness the talent held by the country’s armed forces. T he return home after serving in any branch of the nation’s armed forces should bring feelings of pride and comfort, not worry and anguish about returning to civilian life. As they begin to transition back into the country’s workforce, veterans are equipped with skills and knowledge that leading companies fi nd of unmatched value. A few of the benefi ts include the ability to adapt, train, lead and problem solve with ease. What The Data Say According to a Current Population Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the overall unemployment rate for veterans was . %, higher than the nonveteran rate of . % in . In addition, BLS found that sectors veterans found the most success in were education, health services, construction, manufacturing, transportation and business services. Moving forward, industries such as technology, biotechnology, IT and aerospace & defense have by ALEXIS ELMORE MILITARY & VETERANS 102 WORKFORCE 2024 FourBlock’s Career Readiness Program is supported by teachings created at Columbia University. Photo courtesy of Columbia University104 WORKFORCE 2024 gained a lead in acquiring the veteran workforce, as Forbes found in its America’s Best Employers for Veteran’s rankings. A survey of , veterans showed that industry leaders like Google, Duke Energy and Lockheed Martin are bolstering their teams and off ering relevant skills training to transitioning service members. Nearshoring of operations has changed the landscape of workforce needs looking forward into the next decade, creating a benefi cial two-way street for both employers and veterans as tax credits further incentivize the asset of this workforce. ese hiring needs span nationwide, although data show that certain states seem to provide the ideal environment for veterans to set up shop. In WalletHub’s “’s Best and Worst State’s for Military Retirees” report, based on the economic environment, quality of life and health care off erings, the top fi ve states for veterans are Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Minnesota and Connecticut. All of these states support the leading industries looking to on-board service members and are well-suited to support a member’s family in the long run. Regardless of location, veterans are guaranteed to fi nd services that help them gain the training or credentials needed to score a high- quality role. Google’s Got Your Six Forbes found that Google was the No. top employer for veterans in . According to Google Veteran Network Global Leader Mike Benedosso, the military community off ers invaluable attributes such as teamwork, collaboration, grit, reliance and a diverse perspective. A U.S. Army veteran himself, Benedosso knows all too well the benefi ts of hiring service members that embody these attributes. “I joined the U.S. Army to be part of something bigger than myself, to tackle complex problems and to become a member of a tight-knit team working towards a common goal. When I left military service, one of my priorities was to fi nd a mission- driven company with similar characteristics,” says Benedosso. “While little can match the camaraderie that I gained through my military service, I have been inspired by the community of Googlers who similarly aspire to work towards a common good while addressing some of the world’s most complex challenges.” Most veterans would head to Google’s search engine to research what opportunities are available to them upon returning home, and that same tool can be used to land a role with the Fortune company. Google off ers a wide array of avenues for former service members to fi nd the perfect role. is includes the recent implantation of its cloud-based platform Onward Ops, a partnership with the ETS Sponsorship Program that serves as a one-stop shop for tailored job training, trained sponsors, veterans benefi ts assistance and mental health resources. In addition, Google invested $ million in the Hiring Our Heroes Career Forward program, which off ers free access to Google Career Certifi cates and the opportunity to move into a -week fellowship with companies like Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Verizon and Google, to name a few of over participating employers. Veterans can also take advantage of free programs like Google Cloud Days training, building skills in data analysis, IT support, cloud development and security engineering. “Whether it’s by helping transitioning service members build a civilian career, supporting veterans as they work to expand their networks and build community outside of the military, or making it easier for military spouses or partners to succeed in their careers despite countless moves, I’m proud to be a part of a company that puts its honor for the military community into action,” says Benedosso. FourBlock Removes Roadblocks Beyond companies, there are a number of organizations around the nation that aim to Source: Data courtesy of WalletHub 2023’s Top 10 States for Military RetireesRank Name Industry 1 U.S. Department of Energy Government Services 2 Ricoh North America Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment 3 Mallinckrodt Drugs & Biotechnology 4 Southwest Airlines Transportation and Logistics 5 Google IT, Internet, Software & Services 6 ChristianaCare Health Care & Social 7 Duke Energy Utilities 8 Steel Dynamics Engineering, Manufacturing 9 H-E-B Grocery Company Retail and Wholesale 10 Lockheed Martin Aerospace & Defense Source: Data courtesy of Forbes Top Organizations for Veterans WORKFORCE 2024 105 help veterans transition as smoothly as possible. FourBlock is a New York-based non-profi t organization that has been aiding the career transition of veterans nationwide for over years. “By connecting transitioning service members and veterans with a diverse network of corporate partners, coaches and mentors, and support services, we aim to ensure comprehensive support for their career transition so they may in turn contribute to their communities,” says FourBlock National Operations Director Queta Rodriguez. Each year FourBlock is able to help over service members and their families access resources that build new skills and networking opportunities that land roles with an average starting salary of over $,. Resources like its Career Readiness Program connect veterans directly to a growing ecosystem of employers and curriculum curated by Columbia University, which partnered with the organization in . “Most veterans come to FourBlock’s Veteran Career Readiness Program with a very broad sense of the career path they are interested in, but often seek clarity on specifi c roles that best align with their skills and aspirations,” says Rodriguez. “Many are also undecided when they enter the program; for our most recent Fall program semester, nearly % of participants said they were undecided when asked to identify their career interest for their post-military career.” e program’s one-one-one approach off ers an individualized avenue to career planning and searching throughout its fall and spring semesters, with a goal of having job placements secured upon completion of the program. Results from program participants showed a % increase in veterans reporting that they were extremely confi dent of fi nding a post-military career, based on averages of % before completing the program to % upon completion. FourBlock worked with companies during last year’s program, though overall its alumni have secured positions with over companies in the U.S. such as PwC, T-Mobile, Boeing, ADP, USAA and Wells Fargo. ese same companies often reinvest into the program. In April , FourBlock received a $, grant from USAA to work to expand the program’s capabilities, while Wells Fargo has donated over $ million since . e organization additionally puts intentional focus on student veterans through its partnership with Student Veterans of America, which looks to target critical career fi elds facing a workforce shortage. “We are grateful to be in a position to contribute to this important eff ort,” said Student Veterans of America National President and CEO Jared Lyon. “Our organization is dedicated to supporting the academic and professional success of student veterans, and this partnership with FourBlock will allow us to reach even more veterans and make a meaningful impact on their lives.” For former service members, having this kind of support readily available upon their return home can off er a bit of peace as their lives fi nd new purpose. With nationwide support from both major employers and organizations, feeling lost or alone in this new chapter is a less likely scenario. 106 WORKFORCE 2024 MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP T he Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program based at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Maryland, could be the most valuable, but frequently overlooked, tool in your toolbox. e MEP network consists of MEP Centers in all states and Puerto Rico. NIST says MEP Centers last year interacted with more than , manufacturers, leading to $. billion in sales, $. billion in cost savings and $. billion in new client investments, and helping to create or retain more than , jobs. Here, by arrangement with NIST and MEP, we present a full directory of all MEPs. Manufacturing Extension Partnership Directory Alabama Alabama Technology Network Center Director: Keith Phillips 135 South Union St., Ste. 441 Montgomery, AL 36104 334-293-4673 kphillips@atn.org https://www.atn.org/ Alaska Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Center Director: Alyssa Rodrigues 1901 Bragaw St., Ste. 199 Anchorage, AK 99508 907-786-0412 avshanks01@alaska.edu https://alaska-mep.com/ Arizona Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: David Garafano 100 N. 7th Ave., Ste. 400 Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-845-1200 davidg@azcommerce.com https://www.azcommerce.com/programs/ arizona-mep/ Arkansas Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions Center Director: Keith Gammill 1 Commerce Way, Ste. 601 Little Rock, AR 72202 870-680-8278 kgammill@arkansasedc.com https://www.mfgsolutions.org/ California California Manufacturing Technology Consulting Center Director: James Watson 3760 Kilroy Airport Way, Ste. 450 Long Beach, CA 90806 310-263-3060 jwatson@cmtc.com https://www.cmtc.com/ Colorado Manufacturer’s Edge Center Director: Glenn Plagens Manufacturer’s Edge 1667 Cole Boulevard, Ste. 400 Lakewood, CO 80401 303-592-4087 info@manufacturersedge.com https://www.manufacturersedge.com/ Connecticut CONNSTEP Center Director: Beatriz Gutierrez 350 Church St. 10th Floor Hartford, CT 06103-1126 860-513-3204 bgutierrez@connstep.org https://www.connstep.org/ Delaware Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: Rustyn Stoops 400 Stanton-Christiana Rd., Ste. A-158 Newark, DE 19713 302-283-3131 rstoops1@dtcc.edu https://www.demep.org/ Florida FloridaMakes Center Director: Kevin Carr 201 E Pine St., Ste. 735 Orlando, FL 32801 407-450-7206 info@fl oridamakes.com https://www.fl oridamakes.com/ Georgia Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: Tim Israel Georgia Tech 75 5th St., NW, Ste. 3010 Atlanta, GA 30308 404-894-4633 tim.israel@innovate.gatech.edu https://gamep.org/ WORKFORCE 2024 107 Hawaii INNOVATE Hawaii Center Director: Wayne Inouye 521 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste 255 Rm. 255 HTDC Honolulu, HI 96813 808-539-3603 innovatehawaii@htdc.org http://www.htdc.org/ Idaho TechHelp Center Director: Steve Hatten Boise State University 1910 University Drive Boise, ID 83725-1656 208-426-3767 admin@techhelp.org https://www.techhelp.org/ Illinois Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center Center Director: David Boulay 1501 W. Bradley Ave. Bradley University Peoria, IL 61625 888-806-4632 info@imec.org https://www.imec.org/ Indiana Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: David Snow 550 Congressional Blvd., Ste. 140 Carmel, IN 46032 800-877-5182 mepsupport@purdue.edu https://www.mep.purdue.edu/ Iowa Center for Industrial Research and Service Center Director: Michael O’Donnell Iowa State University 1805 Collaboration Place, Ste. 2300 Ames, IA 50010 515-294-3420 ciras.info@iastate.edu https://www.ciras.iastate.edu/ Kansas Kansas Manufacturing Solutions Center Director: Tiff any Stovall 14425 College Blvd, Ste. 120 Lenexa, KS 66215 913-649-4333 tstovall@wearekms.com https://www.wearekms.com/ Kentucky Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: Scott Broughton Offi ce of Research and Innovation University of Louisville 300 E Market St. Louisville, KY 40202 502-852-9621 kymep@louisville.edu https://louisville.edu/kymep Louisiana Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana Center Director: Dayna Blanchard 265 South Foster Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70806 337-394-2762 dayna.blanchard@mepol.org http://www.mepol.org/ Maine Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: Jim Fay 87 Winthrop St. Augusta, ME 04330-5554 207-623-0680 contact@mainemep.org https://www.mainemep.org/ Maryland Maryland MEP Center Director: Mike Kelleher 8894 Stanford Boulevard, Ste. 304 Columbia, MD 21045 443-343-0085 info@mdmep.org https://www.mdmep.org/ Massachusetts Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: Kim Ingalls 27A Midstate Dr., Ste. 200 Auburn, MA 01501-9998 508-831-7020 Kimberleyi@massmep.org https://www.massmep.org/ Michigan Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center Center Director: Ingrid Tighe 45501 Helm St. Plymouth, MI 48170 734-451-4200 inquiry@the-center.org https://www.the-center.org/ Minnesota Enterprise Minnesota Center Director: John Connelly 2100 Summer St., Ste. 150 Minneapolis, MN 55413 612-373-2900 contactus@enterpriseminnesota.org https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/ Mississippi Mississippi Manufacturers Association Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: Sandy Crist 720 North President Jackson, MS 39225 601-709-2923 sandy@mma-web.org https://mma-web.org/MMA-MEP Missouri Missouri Enterprise Center Director: Dusty Cruise 1426 E State Route 72 Rolla, MO 65401 573-341-0117 dcruise@missourienterprise.org https://www.missourienterprise.org/ Montana Montana Manufacturing Extension Center Center Director: Paddy Fleming Montana State University 2 310 University Way Bldg 2, Ste 1 Bozeman, MT 59717 406-994-3812 pfl eming@montana.edu https://www.montana.edu/mmec/ Nebraska Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: Matthew Allmand University of Nebraska-Lincoln 6200 South 58th St., Ste. A Lincoln, NE 68516-6406 402-472-5993 ne.mep@unl.edu https://nemep.unl.edu/ Nevada Manufacture Nevada Center Director: Tom Simpkins 450 Sinclair St. Reno, NV 89501 800-637-4634 info@manufacturenevada.com https://ManufactureNevada.com New Hampshire New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director: Tony Fernandez 172 Pembroke Road Concord, NH 03301 603-226-3200 anthonyf@nhmep.org http://www.nhmep.org/Next >