October 1st has been declared ‘Manufacturing Day’ in Mississippi by Governor Tate Reeves.
“Manufacturing is the engine that powers Mississippi’s economy,” Governor Reeves said in his signed proclamation. “Manufacturers continue to lead our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and national economic crisis.”
According to the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, manufacturing contributed $17.33 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2020—making it the highest grossing industry in Mississippi.
“Mississippi manufacturers have risen to the occasion during this pandemic to provide quality goods that are distributed at a state, national, and international level,” MMA President & CEO John McKay said. “Today we celebrate their achievements and also highlight the importance of skills training for future members of the workforce.”
McKay believes the creation of Accelerate Mississippi will lead Mississippi on a path of a sustained success. He was recently a guest on a podcast with Accelerate MS Executive Director Ryan Miller. In the podcast, the two discussed goals for the office and how their organizations can partner to solve the workforce problems facing the state.
“We are an engaged partner,” McKay said. “We want to deliver their message to our members. I think we have the right momentum and we look forward to helping them along. This is going to be a real team approach and I am looking forward to it.”
Earlier this week, Governor Reeves held a press conference along with Miller to announce a new regional approach to workforce development that will emphasize the unique needs of individual regions of the state.
