Mississippi State University Awarded EDA Grant

EDAmap

Southeast Mississippi Jobs Accelerator

Award from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Dept. of Commerce:
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Clay Walden, Director, CAVS Extension
  • Covers 2 Year period and supports 18 counties of Southeast Mississippi
SMJA project is designed to:
  • Accelerate job growth, support economic and entrepreneurial development
  • Expand new and existing companies in Southeast Mississippi.

Region: The Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) is comprised of 18 counties in the East Central (ECPDD) and the Southern Mississippi (SMPDD) Planning and Development Districts.

Project Team:
  • MSU - CAVS Extension (CAVS-E), Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach (CEO), National Strategic Planning & Analysis Center (nSAPRC), Franklin Furniture Institute (FFI), Deptment of Agricultural Economics (Ag Econ)
  • Mississippi Development Authority
  • Innovate Mississippi
Outline of Project Activities (Limited Offerings - no cost to participant):
  • Community Development (Thrust Leader: Dr. Becky Smith, Ag Econ.) - 'Know-Your-Region' (KYR) Community Development Planning Workshops
  • Entreprenuership (Thrust Leaders: Mr. Eric Hill, CEO, Tony Jeff Innovate Mississippi) - Kauffman FastTrac Workshops, Startup Weekend, On-going Mentoring
  • Strategic Clusters & Growing Companies (Thrust Leader: Dr. Clay Walden, CAVS-E) - Regional Networking Events, Technical Assistance Projects, Certification Workshops (Six Sigma Green Belt Workshops and Lean Certificate), Continuous Improvement Classes (Financial Fundamentals, Minitab, PFMEA, 8D, SPC, Gage R&R, ...)
about the classes offered as part of this grant through CAVS Extension.

For additional information please contact Dr. Clay Walden, walden@cavse.msstate.edu, (601) 407-2713