ATLAS Industry Roundtable brings workforce leaders together at MCC
Business, education, and workforce leaders gathered at Meridian Community College for the ATLAS Industry Roundtable Discussions, an event focused on shaping Mississippi’s statewide workforce strategy.
The meeting, held in MCC’s Dulaney Room, was part of a series of eight regional sessions led by AccelerateMS in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi Community College Board, and the Mississippi Economic Council. The goal of these sessions is to identify workforce needs across different regions and strengthen the link between education and industry.
“We appreciate Meridian for hosting this meeting,” said Courtney Taylor, executive director of AccelerateMS. “The purpose of these conversations is to drive our state workforce plan we call ATLAS. We’re trying to get the entire system moving in the same direction.”
Taylor said the roundtables are designed to bring groups together, reduce duplication in workforce efforts, and gather as much feedback as possible from employers and educators in one setting.
Jean Massey, executive director of Ascent to 55% at the Mississippi Economic Council, explained that the discussions will help guide both state and regional planning.
“AccelerateMS asked MEC and the Mississippi Manufacturers Association to help coordinate these ATLAS meetings across the state,” Massey said. “The questions and feedback from each session stay in the region so we can compare needs and priorities from one area to another. This helps us see where work needs to align and where it needs to differ.”
Massey added that an online survey is also available to collect additional input from stakeholders. “It’s all to inform our state plan and how we can improve the education-to-business pipeline,” she said.
This session marked the third of eight meetings scheduled across the state’s AccelerateMS Eco Regions. The information gathered will be used to refine Mississippi’s workforce strategy and ensure it meets both federal requirements and local needs.
“This is about doing what’s right for Mississippi,” Massey said.
Visit meridiancc.edu for more information.