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U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.5 Million to Bolster Workforce Development in Mississippi

Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Monday, March 9, 2015


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to Meridian Community College (MCC) in Meridian, Mississippi. The funding will help MCC expand its existing workforce development center to meet growing demand. According to grantee estimates, the renovation will create more than 2,000 jobs and generate more than $44 million in private investment over the next five years.

“Helping communities and regions build the strong workforces they need to stay competitive is a priority for the Obama Administration, the Department of Commerce, and EDA,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams. “The EDA investment announced today will help boost Meridian Community College’s capacity to develop the skilled workforce that local employers demand.”

EDA’s investment will expand and renovate MCC’s existing Workforce Development Center to meet the growing demands of regional employers and address the current lack of available workers. The new facility will include training in industrial maintenance, manufacturing/distribution, electrical technology, truck driving, and construction trade technology. According to the grantee, there is increasingly high demand for skilled workers in these fields. MCC has identified 18 industries and businesses as potential beneficiaries of the project.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.