Gov. Tate Reeves and MDA Executive Director Bill Cork lay out a compelling case for why corporate investors ought to take a closer look at Mississippi. As their letters on the previous pages attest, Mississippi doesn’t just commit to lending businesses a helping hand; it delivers on that promise.
Since the start of the Reeves administration more than seven years ago, the many milestones achieved reflect a track record of accomplishment that no one in Jackson had attained before. The numbers alone convey an impressive story of a turnaround that few outside the state thought possible:
- $85 billion in capital investment since 2020 — far more than most states.
- Record-setting improvement in grade-school reading proficiency: By 2024, Mississippi’s fourth-grade reading scores had climbed to ninth place in the U.S. When adjusted for poverty and demographic factors, Mississippi now ranks first in the nation in both fourth- and eighth-grade reading.
- The largest capital investments in data centers in the country — anchored by AWS, xAI, Meta and Compass.
- Development of some of the most impressive megasites and other shovel-ready sites found anywhere in the country.
- A record $90 billion worth of projects in the pipeline, representing 35,000 possible new jobs for state residents.
- One of the top four states in per-capita income growth.
The list goes on, but numbers alone don’t tell the full story. Each achievement is the product of deliberate strategy, disciplined execution and meaningful collaboration. The following sections of this magazine take a closer look at the initiatives, partnerships and investments that brought these successes to life — revealing how focused effort translated vision into measurable impact.
These sections outline seven key “drivers of growth” that enable this success:
- Speed to Market
- Site Development
- Incentive Programs
- Infrastructure
- Energy
- Workforce
- Quality of Life
In his State of the State Address last year, the governor said, “This is the success we all promised the people of our state. We said Mississippi had momentum and this is Mississippi’s time – and the results are clear. In fact, this is Mississippi’s time.”
In the pages that follow, we show you how Mississippi did it.
