What We Do 

Our Purpose

As the state’s lead workforce development office, AccelerateMS supports strategies to connect Mississippians with transformative, high-paying careers. Rather than the “all-or-nothing” college preparation system of the past, our career coaches help students navigate a variety of post-graduation options and prepare for in-demand jobs that align with their interests and aptitudes. 

Our Vision

Mississippi will have a world-class workforce with unlimited, quality career opportunities to create sustained individual, community, and statewide economic prosperity.

Our Values

Values give us purpose or meaning in our lives - like an internal navigation system, guiding and leading us. When our students begin to look at their future beyond high school, it is important for us to help them assess how their values and career choices align. We do this by creating greater self-awareness of their talents, interests, values, and passions to target the right career for them. Our coaches have become a crucial investment in Mississippi for developing a workforce pipeline for our communities by helping students identify the academic and technical programs that best fit their skills and long-term goals.

Our Mission

AccelerateMS serves the people and businesses of Mississippi by developing and deploying workforce strategies to connect individuals with transformative, high-paying careers. By leveraging resources and partnering with organizations that hold complementary missions, AccelerateMS effectuates positive change, creating sustained individual, community, and statewide economic prosperity.

Message From The Director

“We believe that access to one-on-one career coaching will open the eyes of Mississippi high school students to the kinds of high-tech, high-skill jobs available right here at home. We’ve seen this model create a positive impact in communities across the state and believe that - with support from elected officials and members of business and industry - this program will continue to make that impact and grow it exponentially.”

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- Dr. Courtney Taylor, Executive Director

Our Impact

Early results show the career coach initiative is a smart investment, especially considering that many students have never had discussions about how to best connect with diverse local career opportunities. 

30,030 one-on-one student conversations

3,309 college applications

1,762 job shadow opportunities

1,869 job applications

2,181 industry-based guest speakers

20,130 Online Career Exploration/Aptitude Inventories