State Universities Continue to Attract More Students
Institutions reported increased enrollment for the 2024 Fall term The number of students enrolled in the state’s eight universities increased by nearly 3,000 for the Fall 2024 term, reaching 79,817 compared to 77,074 for 2023 and 75,739 for 2022. The University of Mississippi led in growth with a record-setting freshman class and strong retention rates […]
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Open Crystal Sky Casino in Louisville
The $25-million casino held its grand opening December 19 In the past 30 years, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) has proven how its gaming and entertainment developments can transform rural areas providing jobs and economic development. The Golden Moon and Silver Star hotels and casinos that are part of the offerings at Pearl […]
Lower Interest Rates Could Be A Benefit to People and Businesses
Economists predict the Fed will continue cutting rates this year Most economists anticipate the Federal Reserve will continue cutting interest rates this year, said J. Corey Miller, Ph.D., State Economist for Mississippi and director of the University Research Center. “Lower interest rates would definitely benefit industries that have to finance purchases of machinery and equipment, […]
Michael Joe Cannon: Success Due to Driven Determination
Cannon builds one used-car lot into 23 dealerships across state Sometimes, having a sports background early on can help in business success later in life. Michael Joe Cannon was a Ranger football star at Northwest Mississippi Community College. During the 1980 season, Cannon had 31 unassisted tackles, 50 assists, and five fumble recoveries. He was […]
Foreign Ownership of Ag Land
Ag Commissioner urges Mississippi Legislature to address problem Concern has been increasing in recent years about foreign ownership of one of the most precious assets in America, agricultural lands. The State of Arkansas recently took action to require a Chinese firm to divest of agricultural land. While foreign ownership has also been an issue in […]
Teacher Shortages in State
Multiple efforts underway to address serious problem Many schools in Mississippi don’t have an adequate number of teachers in the classroom this fall. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) 2023-24 Educator Shortage survey indicates there are currently 5,012 vacancies among teachers, administrators and school support staff across the state. The survey, done between August and […]
Port of Vicksburg Expansion
Will create a dream site for future development The Port of Vicksburg has long been one of the biggest economic engines of Warren County and a major asset to the Delta and Mississippi. The current port is not directly on the river, but on the Yazoo Diversion Canal about 1.5 to three miles inland. The […]
Artificial Intelligence
Creating a tectonic shift in the way we work Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way the business world works. The non-profit Mississippi AI Collaborative, via its AI Agency, is working to enhance the state’s workforce and economy through the application of AI and cloud technologies. By working to integrate generative AI technologies into local […]
Unemployment in Rural Areas Dropping
Lower than the national average Traditionally, small counties in the Mississippi Delta had unemployment rates higher than the state and national average. However, the most recent figures available from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) indicate that unemployment continues to drop even in previously challenged rural counties. The numbers, in most cases, are the […]
New C Spire Passport Platform Allows Seamless Connectivity
Will increase safety and save time Sometimes listening to what customers need and pulling out all the stops to make sure they get it can pay big dividends. That is the case with the newest offering of C Spire Business, Passport. “C Spire prides itself in providing incredible customer service,” said Jonathan Askins, C Spire […]
