March 2019
The Enterprise of Mississippi Newsletter

View this email in your browser

First Basic Manufacturing Class Completed

The Enterprise and Holmes Community College Workforce Development completed their first Basic Manufacturing Class the week of February 25 - March 1. A total of five participants completed the 24 hour course and received their Workkeys certificate. This class was offered through a

regional grant received from the Appalachian Regional Commission (see more in the story below). The class was led by retired Webster County School District employees Lyn Blaylock and Becky Oliver aldong with Thomas Allen from Cook-Allen Engineers in Eupora. Additional Basic Manufacturing Classes will be held in the upcoming months in Choctaw and Webster Counties.

February Industry to Industry Meeting - Young Talent

Thank you to Tennessee Valley Authority Economic Development team member Melissa Halsell for leading our quarterly industry round table meeting on Monday, February 11. Melissa took participants through an exercise about Young Talent discussing how our community and industry is preparing for future generations to live, work and play in The Enterprise.

Workforce Partners Come Together to Deploy Programming

Partners in Workforce in The Enterprise area met on January 11 to discuss implementation of new workforce programming.
Left to Right in photo above:
Lara Bowman, Director of The Enterprise; Roger Whitlock, EmPOWER grant manager; Brian Jones, Superintendent, Webster County School District; Michael Adkins, Director, Webster County Career and Technology Center; Mitzi Lawrence, WIOA Program Director, Golden Triangle Planning & Development District; Bill Crawford, EmPOWER grant manager; Kelly Powell, Counselor, Webster County Career and Technology Center; Dr. Mike Blankenship, Vice President of Workforce Development, Holmes Community College; Slade Redwine, Workforce Development Coordinator, Holmes Community College; Mr. Jones, Maintenance, Webster County School District; Christopher Shea, Director of Technology, Webster County School District; Paul Orr, Ag Machinery Instructor, Webster County Career and Technology Center.

Through an Appalachian Regional Commission - Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) grant awarded to the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District and the ACT Work Ready Community program, Choctaw and Webster Counties are becoming better equipped to train the necessary workforce needed by local employers. The new grant and program will work to attract businesses, establish new jobs and increase economic development in opportunities in Choctaw and Webster Counties.

Click HERE to continue reading.

Aspire Team Beautification Efforts Highlighted

Aspire team member Juli Hughes of Choctaw County was interviewed along with other team members about their project to improve downtown Ackerman.

Choctaw County's Aspire team was featured on WCBI News in Columbus highlighting the groups accomplishments in working with the Town of Ackerman Board of Alderman to beautify the town's median. Each Aspire team had to set a goal to work towards in the summer of 2018. Choctaw County chose to increase revenue sales in local businesses. The team is working to beautify the downtown area to attract more visitors and create a more business friendly environment.

Webster County's Aspire team chose to work with local high school students to improve their job readiness skills for the workforce. Both teams will graduate from the Mississippi Development Authority Aspire Program in March.

Sharing The Enterprise Story

North Mississippi Industrial Development Association offers a monthly program called Lunch with Locals where they sponsor a community to present to the Mississippi Development Authority staff. The Enterprise was February's luncheon participant. Lara Bowman gave a 20 minute presentation highlighting the recent advancements made in property development, workforce development and community livability to MDA over the noon lunch hour.

Additionally in February, Bowman presented to TVA's Workforce Institute and was able to share The Enterprise's story to communities around the Tennessee Valley. Bowman shared with participants of the Workforce Institute how she conducted a business climate and wage survey with local industrial employers in May 2018. Bowman has used the data to direct programs of work and highlight areas of success from the feedback of local employers.

ACT Work Ready Community Update

Choctaw and Webster Counties completed the ACT Work Ready Communities Boot Camp in Little Rock, Arkansas, in January. Both counties had community representatives attend the Boot Camp to learn about implementation of the program. ACT WRC gave each county goals they must meet to become a certified Work Ready Community. Choctaw County has met 90% of their goals and Webster County has met 82% of their goals by the end of February.

The Enterprise is working to have both counties certified by April 2019. One goal not being met by either of the counties is the testing of the emerging workforce. The emerging workforce is classified as high school and college students who have taken Workkeys. Choctaw County High School and French Camp Academy has given all high school seniors the Workkeys test. East Webster and Eupora High School students are scheduled to take the test in March.

Support The Enterprise of Mississippi

The Enterprise is seeking external funding and kicking off a fundraising campaign. We will focus this next year on making improvements to existing industrial property and planning long-term to acquire new property for industrial development. We will take a closer look at workforce development in our area to strengthen training programs and access to resources for employers and job applicants to improve and expand their skill set. All while continuing to market and build relationships to increase knowledge of The Enterprise to external partners. Your support is needed to continue to build off the success of the last year.

If you would like to become a Supporter of The Enterprise please view our Levels of Support for 2018-2019. Contact Lara Bowman at 769-610-1795 or l.bowman@theenterprisems.com to learn more.

Platinum Level Supporter of The Enterprise:

Mississippi Lignite Mining Company

Silver Level Supporters of The Enterprise

For highlights and more of what we are sharing throughout the month follow us at:

Use our hashtag for all things related to the Enterprise area:
#EnterpRISINGinMS

Tweet us using the hashtag now!

If you feel you received this newsletter in error or would like to remove yourself, please click the unsubscribe button at the bottom.

The Enterprise of Mississippi

P.O. Box 327

Eupora, MS 39744

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Lara Bowman · P.O. Box 327 · 855 S Dunn Street · Eupora, MS 39744 · USA

Aspire Team Beautification Efforts Highlighted

Platinum Level Supporter of The Enterprise:

Mississippi Lignite Mining Company

Silver Level Supporters of The Enterprise

Use our hashtag for all things related to the Enterprise area: #EnterpRISINGinMS

Use our hashtag for all things related to the Enterprise area:
#EnterpRISINGinMS