As Mississippi’s lead workforce development office, AccelerateMS is expanding its statewide career coaching initiative to better connect students with meaningful career opportunities. Through this effort, more than 200 career coaches are now serving students in 204 schools, helping bridge the gap between education and the workforce.

Modeled after similar programs that earned success in northeast Mississippi and on the Gulf Coast, the statewide career coaching initiative began gaining momentum shortly after being funded by the State Legislature during the 2022 session.

Career coaches step in where traditional guidance counseling ends—helping students identify career pathways that align with their skills and interests while connecting them to real-world opportunities such as job shadowing, internships, training programs, and employment. Working closely with educators, parents, and industry partners, coaches ensure students are exposed, prepared, and connected to post-secondary options.

The program is supported through grants awarded to six regional development organizations responsible for recruiting, hiring, and placing coaches across their service areas.

“These efforts reflect a meaningful shift in how Mississippi is preparing its students—not just for jobs, but for purpose-driven, sustainable careers,” said Blaise King, Director of Workforce Innovation at AccelerateMS. “With strong support from policymakers, educators, and the business community, this program has the potential to drive long-term economic growth in every region of the state—from the Delta to the Gulf Coast.”

As part of this continued growth, AccelerateMS also launched Career EDGE, a new data management platform designed to streamline case management and more clearly demonstrate the measurable impact of career coaching statewide.

As the program continues to expand and evolve, AccelerateMS remains committed to supporting career coaches and strengthening the talent pipeline that will drive the state’s economic future.