MEDC recognizes Mississippi State鈥檚 CAVS Extension for jobs reshoring initiative
Contact: Jim Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State鈥檚 Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension is a major honoree of the Mississippi Economic Development Council.
The university鈥檚 Canton-based office recently accepted the Community Economic Development Award for its work to bring advanced manufacturing jobs back to America. The MEDC recognition specifically cited the 鈥淩eshoring Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in Mississippi: Enhancing Skills and Building Competitiveness鈥 program.
The program is an example of MSU鈥檚 commitment to effective service and outreach, said Clay Walden, CAVS Extension director and a research professor at the land-grant institution.
鈥淐AVS Extension and the university as a whole are actively engaged in the lives of Mississippians,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he reshoring initiative had a nearly $11-million economic impact, and it demonstrates the meaningful assistance we provide and the partnerships we鈥檝e developed with employers and other stakeholders across all 82 counties in the state.鈥
During the three-year effort, the project team worked with Mississippi manufacturers to reshore jobs back to the U.S. from other countries and to prevent any additional offshoring.
More than 33 direct investment opportunities were identified, and 333 jobs were created or saved, according to Walden. Additionally, the program saw 262 industry certifications and 221 paid internships in high-demand advanced manufacturing skills.
Walden accepted the award at MEDC鈥檚 legislative conference in Jackson earlier this month. The project has been submitted to the Southern Economic Development Council for regional competition.
While CAVS Extension led the Reshoring Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in Mississippi program, Walden credited teamwork for its success.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have done this without our many partners,鈥 he said.
Those partners included Mississippi State鈥檚 Franklin Furniture Institute and National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, as well as InnovateMEP Mississippi, the Reshoring Initiative, Mississippi Development Authority, South Delta Planning and Development District, Three Rivers Planning and Development District, and East Mississippi, Holmes, Itawamba and Mississippi Delta community colleges.
The program competed for initial funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration鈥檚 Make It In America program, and also received additional support from the Delta Regional Authority, the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Employment Training Administration, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology鈥檚 Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
David Shaw, MSU鈥檚 vice president for research and economic development, said, 鈥淎s the state鈥檚 economy grows and diversifies, our researchers and resources are playing greater roles in the diverse communities we serve.鈥
鈥淲orking to meet the needs of business and industry is a clearly defined priority of the university, and we鈥檙e proud of all the excellent work carried out by the CAVS Extension team,鈥 he said.
CAVS Extension is a major component of the engagement and outreach services offered by MSU鈥檚 Bagley College of Engineering. For additional information, visit or contact Walden at walden@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2713.
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