18 counties: Clarke, Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Smith, Stone, Wayne

Target Industries: Advanced Manufacturing with emphasis on metal related industries and construction

Region Information

In 2005, Governor Haley Barbour launched Momentum Mississippi to develop and oversee the state's long range economic development plan. In Southeastern Mississippi, Momentum WIRED will transform the current workforce investment system in 18 counties hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. A key element of this transformation is to identify fundamental skills that cut across advanced manufacturing in order to equip workers with industry-identified skills. The regional partnership will work with industry and community colleges to create Momentum Centers for Excellence that will be focused on training and career credentialing. The regional partnership will also work with the Mississippi Department of Education to implement curricula within the K-12 system to foster talent development and feed training programs in the Centers for Excellence.