Advantage THE MISSISSIPPI
January 2016 | First Quarter
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
YOKOHAMA
Major Manufacturer Rolls With Teamwork, Preparation & Speed
Interview Q&A with Dr. Mary Graham Workforce Development in Mississippi stands out as best practice Tadaharu Yamamoto, president Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi
Advantage THE MISSISSIPPI
January 2016 | First Quarter The Mississippi Advantage is published by Mississippi Development Authority, 501 North West Street, Jackson, MS 39201. Please contact us at 800-360-3323 or LocateinMS@mississippi.org. @2016 Mississippi Development Authority
6 1 2 4 10 11 12
COVER STORY
Yokohama Breaks Ground on First U.S. Facility located in West Point, MS Governor’s Welcome A Message from Governor Phil Bryant
Interview Q&A with Dr. Mary Graham, MGCCC
Advantage Mississippi Recent Locations & Expansions
Modeled for Manufacturing: Mississippi’s Quality 21st Century Workforce
Incentives Spotlight Advantage Jobs Program
Mississippi: On The Global Stage by Glenn McCullough, Jr., MDA Exec. Director
January 2016 | First Quarter
Welcome from Governor Phil Bryant Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Mississippi Advantage, a publication highlighting the advantages of locating or expanding a business or industry here in Mississippi. All across the state, companies are enjoying the competitive edge Mississippi provides. We’re a Top 10 state for doing business, and the No. 4 most tax-friendly state in the nation. Mississippi ranks No. 3 for competitive labor costs, and we’re No. 5 in both the growth of women-owned businesses and in advanced manufacturing. While we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, we’re not resting on our past success. We’re reaching new levels in key sectors: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, agribusiness, automotive manufacturing, energy, health care, and shipbuilding. With our best-in-the-nation community college system working closely with industries and the State Workforce Investment Board, Mississippi is providing a labor pool that is job ready on day one. In future issues, you’ll find more about the successes companies are enjoying in the Magnolia State. Mississippi leadership continues to keep taxes low and supports a pro-business environment. You’ll also see articles detailing some of the customized incentives solutions Mississippi offers to fit a company’s needs. Opportunities are abundant, not only for us in Mississippi, but also for people who come here to be Target Industries a part of this great state. The cover story in this issue is about Yokohama Tire Manufacturing’s decision Advanaced Manufacturing to locate its new North American truck tire production facility in West Point and how it is a strong example of industry leaders coming to Mississippi and recognizing all ofAerospace the advantages available in our state. And on top of it all, Mississippi is a great place to live.
Additiona Workforce
Universities & J
Agribusiness
Rail
Automotive
Interstate/Hwy
Energy
So please, enjoy The Mississippi Advantage – both the publication and the experience of having your Healthcare business or industry here. Shipbuilding
Sincerely,
Tax Incentives
Grants & Loans
Ports - Logistics
Additional Icons
Companies/Bu
Data & Call Centers
Airports - Logis
Warehouse and Distribution
Creative Econo
Fiber Optics
1
Mississippi
Tourism
Minority
Disaster Recovery
EIB
s
cturing
cons
ribution
Q
: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has a strong track record in President, successful workforce training Mississippi in the manufacturing sector. Gulf Coast What are some of your recent Community successes, and how do you Additional Icons College measure that success?
Interview with Dr. Mary Graham
Workforce
A
: The most recent success in the manufacturing sector has been the Rail implementation of a new degree program, Interstate/Hwy - Logistics Maritime Technology. The program is an outgrowth of the college’s successful operation of the Huntington Ingalls apprenticeship Tax Incentives program of more than 60 years. Individuals Grants & Loans now have the opportunity to earn an associates degree with up to 30 college credit hours Ports - Logistics (one-half of the degree) awarded using a Companies/Businesses competency-based model where individuals receive credit for their apprenticeships. Airports - Logistics All MGCCC programs are measured for Creative Economy success, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Mississippi Qualitatively, MGCCC routinely measures 2 Universities & Junior Colleges
Minority EIB
graduation and job placement rates, wage gains and retention. Quantitatively, MGCCC maintains program advisory councils and a workforce council composed of industry representatives who work with the college to measure success and modify programs as needed.
Q
: Today’s industries need cost-effective training solutions. What resources do the state and community colleges provide to make workforce-training programs cost effective?
A
: The community college provides the infrastructure that enacts the state’s funding of Mississippi’s workforce education program. MGCCC personnel work with companies to design and deliver training according to industry needs. Eligible skills and upgraded training costs are shared with the company, the college and the Mississippi Community College Board. Employers may
Interview Q&A
January 2016 | First Quarter
have as much as 100 percent of training costs funded by the state and the college in some instances, such as train-the-trainer training and pre-employment training. MGCCC was able to serve more than 70 local industries, accessing nearly $4 million in state training dollars in Fiscal Year 2015. Additionally, the college is currently managing more than $3 million in other competitive funds that aid in the development of the coastal workforce. This blended funding strategy insures cost-effective training for Mississippi companies.
Q
: The middle skills gap continues to be a top issue for companies who require highly skilled production workers and technicians. How is MGCCC raising awareness and working toward closing this skills gap regionally?
A
: MGCCC is home to more than 50 career and technical programs, in addition to its non-credit workforce training efforts. These programs are geared to the middle skills workforce in MGCCC’s district, Mississippi, and the southeastern region. The programs follow a sector-based deployment strategy with programs in healthcare, energy, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, information technology, automotive service, and human services. The programs primarily train in the middle skills tier with graduate placement rates into employment in the 90-percentile range. Key to closing the skills gap is a solid, malleable curriculum that is influenced by business and
industry in all of these programs, as well as the start up of new programs as demand requires. MGCCC has more than 4,000 students training in middle skills areas each year.
Q
: In what ways does MGCCC adapt to market changes to keep its workforce training programs relevant to industries for their long-range success?
A
: MGCCC’s workforce, career, and technical programs are, by design, industry driven. MGCCC personnel custom design workforce training programs with industries so that the long range goals of industry are guiding principles. Local, state and national employment data and economic development trends are monitored to ensure Target Industries balanced and relevant program offerings. Advanaced Manufacturing Program advisory boards and a workforce council oversee and aid the college’s decisions Aerospace to begin and end programs. Recently, the Agribusiness college has begun programs in light duty diesel technology, medical assisting, andAutomotive pre-employment training, and it has created a Energy state-of-the-art healthcare simulation facility, all as a result of market demand. CollegeHealthcare personnel routinely hold positions on local and Shipbuilding state workforce investment boards and local economic development organizations to be informed regarding local industry needs.Additional Icons
Workforce
Universities & J Rail
Interstate/Hwy
Tax Incentives
Grants & Loans
Ports - Logistics
Companies/Bu
Data & Call Centers
Airports - Logis
Warehouse and Distribution
Creative Econo
Fiber Optics
Additiona
3
Mississippi
Tourism
Minority
Disaster Recovery
EIB
s
cturing
cons
ribution
Locations &Expansions MISSISSIPPI
October - December 2015
Ashley Furniture ECRU Phase 13 Expansion $6 Million Corporate Investment Oct. 6, 2015 - Ashley Furniture held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the company’s stationary upholstery manufacturing and regional distribution center in Ecru, Miss. The project represents a $6 million corporate investment in an expansion of its manufacturing facility and transportation terminal. Once construction is complete, the new 175,192-square-foot addition will increase the company’s footprint in Ecru to nearly 2 million square feet under roof. Koch Foods - Forest & Morton $2 Million & $33 Million Capital Investment, 203 New Jobs Oct. 21, 2015 – PoultryIcons processor Koch Foods announced the Additional company is expanding operations at its facilities in Forest and Workforce Morton, Miss. The expansions, with corporate investments of Universities$2 & million Junior Colleges approximately in Forest and $33 million in Morton, will create a total of 203 jobs – 23 in Forest and 180 in Rail Morton. Koch Foods currently employs approximately 3,200 in ScottInterstate/Hwy County. - Logistics Mississippi Silicon Tax Incentives Burnsville Grants & Loans Grand Opening, $200Ports Million Capital - Logistics Investment, 200 New Jobs Companies/Businesses
Oct. 28, 2015 - Mississippi Silicon celebrated the grand Airports - Logistics opening of the company’s new silicon metal production facilityCreative in Burnsville, EconomyMiss., in Tishomingo County. The new Mississippi-based facility will produce silicon metal for a Mississippi 4 broad range of industries in the United States, including Minority EIB
the aluminum, automotive and chemical industries. The project, announced in January 2014, comes with a corporate investment of $200 million and the creation of 200 jobs. Towanda Metadyne Gulfport 20 New Jobs, Precision, High-Tech Materials & Components Nov. 2, 2015 – Towanda Metadyne Inc., manufacturer of precision high-tech materials and components, announced the acquisition of the former Hydro Carbide facility in Gulfport, Miss. With a substantial corporate investment and 20 new jobs, the new division, Metadyne Gulfport LLC, is expected to begin operations by mid-November. Sofidel America Hattiesburg $120 Million Capital Investment, 230 New Jobs Nov. 5, 2015 – Tissue paper manufacturer Sofidel America announced the company is locating operations in Hattiesburg, Miss., in Forrest County. The project represents a corporate investment of $120 million and will create 230 jobs. Rockfon - Marshall County $42 Million Capital Investment, 90 New Jobs Nov. 19, 2015 – ROCKFON® LLC,, a subsidiary of Denmarkbased ROCKWOOL® International A/S and affiliate to ROXUL® Inc., announced the location of it’s acoustic ceiling panel manufacturing operations in Marshall County, Miss.The project represents a corporate investment of $42 million over
January 2016 | First Quarter
the next five years and the creation of at least 90 jobs. The operations will be the company’s first in North America.
Consolidated Catfish
Consolidated Catfish - Isola $900,000 Capital Investment, 12 New Jobs
Nov. 24, 2015 – Officials from catfish producer and processor Consolidated Catfish announced the company is expanding operations at its facility in Isola, Miss., in Humphreys County. The project represents a corporate investment of $900,000 and will create 12 jobs. Foamcraft Inc. Tupelo $1.34 Million Capital Investment, 40 New Jobs Nov. 25, 2015 – Officials from Foamcraft, Inc., manufacturer of polyurethane foam products, announced the company is expanding operations in Tupelo, Miss., to accommodate an increase in consumer demand. The project represents a corpoarte investment of $1.34 million and will create 40 jobs. Tilsatec North America - Eupora $800,000 Capital Investment, 19 New Jobs Dec. 8, 2015 – Officials from Tilsatec North America, manufacturer of cut, puncture and flame-resistant gloves, sleeves, and garments, announced the company has located manufacturing and distribution operations in Eupora, Miss., in Webster County. Immediately creating 19 new jobs, the project represents an initial corporate investment of $800,000. Biewer Lumber Newton $85 Million Capital Investment, 125 New Jobs Dec. 14, 2015 – Officials from Biewer Lumber announced the company is locating a state-of-the-art sawmill in Newton,
Miss. The project will create 125 jobs. Construction of the new sawmill, a corporate investment of $85 million, is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2016, with mill production expected to begin in early 2017. ABB - Senatobia 85,000-square-foot facility 200 New Jobs Dec. 15, 2015 – Power and automation technology group ABB announced the company is locating new manufacturing operations in Senatobia, Miss., in Tate County. ABB will establish operations in the 85,000-square-foot facility formerly occupied by Twin Creeks Technologies. The project will create 200 new jobs by its third year of operation, with another 100 new jobs anticipated by the fifth year. Hago Automotive Iuka $10 Million Capital Investment, 80 New Jobs
Dec. 18, 2015 – Laser-welded sheet metal and stamped automotive parts producer hago Automotive Corp. is locating operations in Iuka, Miss., in Tishomingo County. The project Target Industries represents a corporate investment of $10 million and will Additiona create 80 jobs. Advanaced Manufacturing
Workforce
Aerospace American Furniture Manufacturing - Agribusiness Amory Automotive $560,000 Capital Investment, 140 New Jobs
Universities & J Rail
Interstate/Hwy
Energy
Dec. 22, 2015 – American Furniture Manufacturing announced the company isHealthcare expanding its presence in Mississippi by investing $560,000 by locating manufacturing Shipbuilding operations in Amory in Monroe County. The project will create 140 jobs.
Grants & Loans
Ports - Logistics
Additional Icons
Companies/Bu
Data & Call Centers
Airports - Logis
Warehouse and Distribution
Creative Econo
Fiber Optics
Tax Incentives
5
Mississippi
Tourism
Minority
Disaster Recovery
EIB
YOKOHAMA: Mississippi’s
Strong Ground Game Leads to Record-Breaking Start Advanced manufacturing in Mississippi is on a roll. Mississippi’s workforce is flexing its muscle, stepping out of an agrarian shadow onto the world stage and demonstrating secondto-none workmanship. From sophisticated electronics, high-quality steel and the largest transformer manufacturer in the nation to composite components for jet engines, unmanned aerial systems and the most advanced warships in the world, “Made in Mississippi” is synonymous with quality. Just seven miles north of where West Point’s largest employer shut its doors in 2007, Yokohama Tire is not only breathing new life into the city but also re-emphasizing Gov. Phil Bryant’s oft-repeated mantra: “In Mississippi, we make things.” “In the 1990s, a lot of the low-skill, low-wage jobs got outsourced,” said Raj Shaunak, vice president of Manufacturing Technology and Engineering at East Mississippi Community College. “Even though they were relatively low-wage jobs here, the wages were lower in India, China, the Dominican Republic, Mexico –
whatever. It was very hurtful for those people who lost those jobs, but it was destructive creation. “The advanced manufacturing renaissance has occurred in Mississippi, and there are oases of excellence across the state.” The new Yokohama Tire facility is one of the most recent examples of Mississippi’s capabilities and competitiveness. Landing the project, its $300 million in corporate investment and its first-phase 500 jobs – with the potential of reaching 2,000 jobs with subsequent phases – depended
“The advanced manufacturing renaissance has occurred in Mississippi, and there are oases of excellence across the state.”
Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi 500-acre site West Point, Miss.
s
cturing
cons
ribution
CEO on providing the proper site, proving Joe Max Higgins the availability and trainability of the workforce and proffering the right Golden Triangle incentive package. Development It started with the site. Just a few LINK months before receiving the RFP, the 1,400acre Prairie Belt Powersite – now the home of the 1 million-square-foot first phase of the Yokohama Tire facility and the prepped Additional Icons sites for three additional phases – was just an open field. Workforce
“Do you realize they looked at every county in the country?”
Universities & Junior Colleges Rail
Interstate/Hwy - Logistics
Tax Incentives Grants & Loans Ports - Logistics Companies/Businesses Airports - Logistics Creative Economy Mississippi 8 Minority EIB
“Had we not taken the initiative to put the site together, had we not had the financing together, it never would have happened,” said Joe Max Higgins, chief executive officer of the Golden Triangle Development LINK, the economic development agency for Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties.
Once Yokohama indicated an interest in Mississippi, what followed was a fastpaced blend of individual efforts and broadbased teamwork involving the local and state economic developers, local and state governments and the community college. Attention to details was essential – from travel plans all the way down to footwear. “When they first came in, we had a rain here of just biblical proportions,” Higgins said. “They weren’t going to be here very long, and you can’t get around the Golden Triangle area in 15 minutes by car. So when the chairman of Yokohama came in, we rented a Sikorsky 76 helicopter – one that Bill Gates had been flying in the week before – to fly them over the site and over to Mississippi State University. We had gotten everyone’s shoe size ahead of time, so when they arrived and we took them to the site, we had galoshes for everyone.” In a highly competitive process with investment and jobs at stake, preparation, speed and focus mean the difference between being the project winner or an also-ran. The Yokohama project absolutely qualified as highly competitive. “Do you realize they looked at every county in the country?” Higgins said. “They gave invitations to 100 of them. Twenty-six of those went to Mississippi towns. Nineteen of those Mississippi communities filled out the paperwork.” The themes of accelerated pace and attention to detail has continued throughout the Yokohama story in West Point. The time from groundbreaking to the Oct. 6, 2015, official ribbon cutting was the fastest in the 98-yearold company’s history, according
January 2016 | First Quarter
to Tadaharu Yamamoto, president of Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi. As the West Point facility continues to ramp up production and add employees, a great deal of attention has been focused on hiring and training. Getting prospective employees qualified to work for Yokohama and other area industries is where Shaunak excels. “At one point during the selection process, the only questions Yokohama had remaining were ‘Was there a labor force and was the labor force trainable?’, and ‘Did EMCC have the capabilities and the knowhow to meet their workforce needs?’ “When they came and visited, they saw the electrical, the industrial maintenance, the technician-level equipment and the training that was going on, and they said ‘that’s exactly what we use,’ Shaunak said. “They spent probably four hours here that day, and they were fully convinced we had the training capabilities.” To determine a prospective employee’s aptitude for the work, EMCC utilizes an initial test. With a suitable score on the test, applicants can proceed to a program covering a litany of advanced manufacturing skills, along with soft-skills training. The training conducted at both the Mayhew campus and in West Point is applicable to almost all advanced manufacturing. For entry level positions, these skills are needed by all advanced manufacturers, not only in this region, but in all of Mississippi, all of the Southeast, and in all of the United States, and it is based on industry credentials and industry standards.
“It’s is a tremendous benefit to Workforce Training Yokohama and the other industries,” East Mississippi Community College Shaunak said. “Their HR costs are (above) minimized. We are their screeners, we’re their assessors, we’re their recruiters, and Raj Shaunak, VP we are their trainers. of Manufacturing “It’s not bragging – others will say it, Technology and too – but they don’t have any doubt now Engineering at EMCC (below) about an available, trainable workforce.” Mississippi is looking forward to Yokohama’s decision to move into Target the next phases of development in Industries West Point, as well as attracting more Advanaced Manufacturing manufacturers to the region and Aerospace throughout the state. “Advanced manufacturing here is Agribusiness not the four D’s: It’s not dirty, it’s not Automotive disappearing, it’s not for the dumb, and Energy it’s definitely not dangerous,” Shaunak said. “It is clean environments where Healthcare you need a skilled workforce who have Shipbuilding attributes of teamwork and personal responsibility and who are able to problem solve. Additional Icons “You can see what’s going on in the Golden Triangle, so we are proud toData be& Call Centers leaders in making things in America.” Warehouse and Distribution Fiber Optics
9
Additiona Workforce
Universities & J Rail
Interstate/Hwy
Tax Incentives
Grants & Loans
Ports - Logistics
Companies/Bu
Airports - Logis
Creative Econo Mississippi
Tourism
Minority
Disaster Recovery
EIB
s
cturing
cons
ribution
Modeled for Manufacturing:
Mississippi’s Quality 21st Century Workforce
The state of Mississippi has developed a premiere, needs-based workforce model that focuses on the technical skill needs of manufacturers. The focus of this model is quality training of manufacturing workers in two areas: (1) advancing the quality of the skilled production workers with top-notch 21st century problem-solving, communication and safety skills; and (2) certifying technical workers in 21st century multi-technical skills by merging internships and apprenticeships so that technicians have two years of experience, are certified and have completed a two-year degree. This model for providing a highly trained and productive workforce
Executive Director James Williams State Workforce Investment Board Additional Icons Workforce Universities & Junior Colleges Rail Interstate/Hwy - Logistics
Tax Incentives Grants & Loans Ports - Logistics Companies/Businesses Airports - Logistics Creative Economy Mississippi 10 Minority EIB
is completed in just two years. Mississippi’s workforce model focuses on each of these two workforces to advance them to be the best manufacturing labor force in the nation. To have the best production workers, which generally make up 60 percent of manufacturing facilities’ workforce, the manufacturing workforce has to be comprised of quality workers who are problem solvers, who can effectively communicate with their teams and others and who can
focus on safety in their environment. These productive workers must continually improve their skill levels so that their manufacturing companies not only remain competitive in the global economy, but so their manufacturing productivity and quality of their companies’ products remain viable well into the future. Mississippi’s nationally recognized community college system has developed the best model of workforce training in basic and customized training programs that incorporate national skill standards as the minimum for manufacturing workers. The result of this targeted, valueadded training is highly qualified, skilled production team members who can learn new processes quickly and apply them successfully. With technical systems becoming more complex, multi-skilled technical team members are in high demand in the manufacturing sector. To address these skill sets, Mississippi community colleges have developed training programs such as mechatronic and advanced manufacturing technician programs. These training programs develop team members who are peak multi-functional performers and are resourceful, innovative problem solvers focused on improved manufacturing productivity. For manufacturing team members to be effective, they must have some practical work experience. By partnering with exclusive businesses to establish internships and apprenticeships, this Mississippi 21st Century Workforce Model for Manufacturing system has reduced the time it takes to produce that top-notch, multi-technical, certified technician. The Advanced Manufacturing Technician
January 2016 | First Quarter
program is designed as an innovative manufacturing degree program that spans five semesters of classroom instruction and provides paid, hands-on experience at a plant site for internships and apprenticeships. This certified technician program was developed in partnership with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi at the company’s Blue Springs, Miss., automotive assembly plant. This Advanced Manufacturing Technician program curriculum includes instruction in areas which include electricity, fluid power, mechanics, fabrication and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing, business principles and best practices. Upon completion of the program, candidates receive an associate’s degree, are certified and are highly skilled technicians that are not only job ready but also proven jobexperienced technicians. Support for manufacturing team members does not end when a person completes the training program and is employed. All successful team members in today’s dynamic economy must continually improve their skills. In this light, Mississippi provides first-class workforce training assistance to manufacturers through the WIN Job Centers and Mississippi’s awardwinning community college system. This model workforce system provides more than $50 million of workforce training assistance to employers through both state and federal funds. These funds are earmarked to distinctly provide manufacturers the ability to maintain their competitive edge with a well-trained, quality, productive 21st century workforce. Through strong partnerships with manufacturers and the Mississippi 21st Century Workforce Model for Manufacturing, Mississippi offers a premier environment where companies enjoy manufacturing success and longevity.
Incentives Spotlight Advantage Jobs Program Mississippi’s Advantage Jobs program provides a cash rebate of the Mississippi income tax withheld from new employees to businesses that create and maintain new, high-quality jobs in the state. To be eligible for Advantage Jobs, businesses must create at least 25 new, full-time jobs with average annual salaries of at least 110 percent of the state or county average annual salary (whichever is less). In addition, data and information processing companies may qualify if they create at least 200 new, full-time jobs with average annual salaries of at least 100 percent of the state or county average annual salary (whichever is less). The average salary of all new jobs being created by the company must meet the program’s minimum average salary requirements, and eligible businesses must offer their employees a basic health benefit plan. The Advantage Jobs rebate is equal to 90 Target Industries percent of the actual state income tax withheld Advanaced Manufacturing for employees with new, direct jobs, capped at 4 percent of each new employee’s total annual salary, Aerospace and it is available for up to 10 years. Agribusiness A wide range of industries may qualify for the program. However, retailAutomotive businesses, gaming establishments, professional services companies and Energy certain telecommunications businesses are not eligible. Healthcare An eligible business has 24 months from the time it is approved by Mississippi Development Authority Shipbuilding to meet its job creation and salary commitments. Businesses interested in the Advantage Jobs program should contact MDA’s Financial Icons Additional Resources Division at financial@mississippi.org or Data & Call Centers 601.359.3552. Warehouse and Distribution Fiber Optics
Additiona Workforce
Universities & J Rail
Interstate/Hwy
Tax Incentives
Grants & Loans
Ports - Logistics
Companies/Bu
Airports - Logis
Creative Econo
11
Mississippi
Tourism
Minority
Disaster Recovery
EIB
s
cturing
cons
ribution
Mississippi:
On The Global Stage
Our world is getting to know Mississippi better, and the rock-solid reputation for Mississippi-made products is growing. Mississippi companies exported nearly $11.5 billion in goods to 181 countries around the world last year – however that only tells part of our global trade story. Mississippi Development Authority’s International Trade Office provides business assistance to small- and mediumsized companies looking to sell their products and services internationally MDA also maintains a network of overseas offices for a broad range of in-market by Glenn services to Mississippi firms. McCullough, Jr. In addition to MDA’s participation in Southeastern United States and a similar MDA Executive trade alliance with Japan, the international Director trade team actively seeks trade Additional Icons opportunities for Mississippi companies Workforce across South America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa. Universities & Junior Colleges During 2015, MDA conducted trade Rail missions in the Dominican Republic, Interstate/Hwy - LogisticsTrinidad, Tobago, and through out Central America. Sixteen Mississippi firms participated in a business development Tax Incentives mission to South America. Representatives of these companies traveled to Colombia, Grants & Loans Peru and Chile to meet one-on-one with Ports - Logistics prospective buyers, distributors and Companies/Businesses government entities to initiate business relations in the region. Airports - Logistics These business development Creative Economy missions can be a company’s initial foray Mississippi 12 Minority EIB
into international trade or an avenue to expanding into new foreign markets. MDA, in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration, provides financial and technical assistance to small- and medium-sized Mississippi companies trying to establish a foothold in these foreign markets through the Mississippi State Trade and Export Promotion Program. The Mississippi STEP Program helps offset certain costs related to participating in trade missions and other international business development activities. The program reimburses eligible businesses up to 50 percent of their travel costs, including airfare and lodging, and provides translation services at no cost. Additional services may include pre-arranged appointments with prospective qualified buyers, local transportation assistance and a customized trip itinerary. Each year, more than 130 Mississippi businesses participate in STEP-sponsored business development missions, businessto-business matchmaking events and trade shows. Last year, the success of those events resulted in more than $225 million in sales for Mississippi businesses in 53 markets worldwide. Serving as Gov. Phil Bryant’s protocol liaison, the trade office hosted more than a dozen foreign dignitaries, including ambassadors and consul generals from Canada, Israel, Japan, China, Morocco, Hong Kong, India and many others. Among the highly successful and promising events for the trade office last year was hosting Israeli Ambassador, His Excellency Ron Dermer, as he visited Mississippi with 11 companies and government procurement leaders. They
January 2016 | First Quarter
met with 25 Mississippi enterprises to explore commercial partnerships. Gov. Bryant also led a business development Mission to Israel. This unique and diverse mission was made up of five economic development tracks including investment, trade, government, defense and workforce. This was the largest mission delegation in Mississippi’s history with more than 30 delegates. Many of these business development missions and excursions into other markets are tied to the other part of the foreign trade equation: foreign direct investment. The ability to attract foreign direct investment – names like Rolls Royce and Yokohama immediately come to mind – not only brings jobs to the state, but it also places Mississippi on the minds of other industry decision makers as they consider locations for their operations. Each time a new manufacturing facility lands in Mississippi, it can be the springboard for their suppliers to set up shop here, too. The MDA team has a number of planned foreign trade events for this year,
Governor Phil Bryant, including the Hannover Messe Industrial Glenn McCullough met Technology Trade Fair in Germany, the with officials from Farnborough Aerospace and Defense Israeli Aerospace Trade Show in England, the Japan and Korea Business Summit and Inbound Mission slated for Biloxi, and other events. Each of these events gives us another opportunity to put Mississippimade products in front of the world, draw interest from foreign manufacturers to establish operations here and grow Israel Knesset Target Industries our state’s economy while bringing Additiona Meeting more career opportunities to L to R: Rose Boxx, Advanaced Manufacturing Workforce MDA; Jonathan Mississippians. Daniels, State Port Aerospace Universities & J Authority; Mark Agribusiness Conroe, Airbus; Delbert Rail Hosemann, Secretary Automotive Interstate/Hwy of State; Michael Oren, Member of the Defense Energy Committee, Israel Healthcare Knesset (parliament); Tax Incentives Governor Bryant; Shipbuilding Grants & Loans Ambassador Judy Shorer, Israel Ministry Ports - Logistics of Foreign Affairs; Additional Icons Shai; Companies/Bu Dr. Nachman Member of the Defense Airports - Logis Data & Call Centers Committee, Israel Warehouse andKnesset; Distribution Creative Econo and Glenn McCullough, MDA. Fiber Optics Mississippi 13
Tourism
Minority
Disaster Recovery
EIB
MADE IN THE USA PERFECTED IN MISSISSIPPI Join the growing group of companies that call Mississippi home!
TOYOTA BOSHOKU
A M M U N I T I O N
Simmons Farm-Raised Catfish Company 2628 Erickson Road • Yazoo City, MS 39194 • (662) 746-5687
PRODUCT OF U.S.A.
Simmons Farm-Raised Catfish Company 2628 Erickson Road • Yazoo City, MS 39194 • (662) 746-5687
PRODUCT OF U.S.A.
mississippi.org