Video: Gov. Bryant Brings ‘Mississippi Works’ Tour To Tupelo

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) -Governor Phil Bryant is on a mission to make sure Mississippi residents know about encouraging job growth numbers and economic development in the state.

In fact, before he arrived at ICC’s Belden campus for his “Mississippi Works” tour, the governor was in Oxford at a groundbreaking for new headquarters for mortgage technology firm, FNC.

With that expansion, about 5 thousand jobs have been created in Mississippi this year.

“Those numbers you normally see in places like Florida and Tennessee,” Gov. Bryant said.
During Bryant’s presentation to educators, business and civic leaders he talked about Mississippi being named the number one state to practice medicine and one of the top states for doing business.

Bryant says the Magnolia State ranks fourth, as the most tax friendly state for business and is fifth in growth for businesses owned by women.

However, the Republican governor says a well trained workforce is key to business and industry recruitment and ICC plays a big role.

“This center is so important because they are related to Toyota, they have direct access to do workforce training but also they work with the WIN job center, so if you have to apply for unemployment or looking for a job or if you want to develop skills necessary to get an advanced manufacturing job you can do all of that in the confines of this center,” Gov. Bryant said.

Economic development leaders say it’s important to share the positive news because it fosters job growth and industry expansion.

“He gave a great message of what Mississippi is, the fact we’ve grown over the last ten years in some of the national rankings, obviously we’re not number one yet in some of those rankings but we’ve made significant progress,” said Community Development Foundation President David Rumbarger.

Bryant believes there are challenges in education system, such as reducing the dropout rate. He also wants more young professionals to stay in the state to work and create more jobs.

The governor also noted that Mississippi is the first state to create an app for finding jobs. It’s called Mississippi Works and can be downloaded on your mobile device.