University of Mississippi Canncellor Dan Jones (left) and Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant chat Monday as they enter the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, where Bryant addressed the Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association's general meeting. UM photo by Kevin Bain.
OXFORD, Miss. – Noting recent significant increases in jobs and tax collections, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said Monday that the state’s work force will continue to catch the eye of industries seeking to expand their operations.
“Personal income of workers in Mississippi is up 3.6 percent and continues to rise,” Bryant said, speaking to members of the state’s Automotive Manufacturers Association during the group’s general meeting at the University of Mississippi’s Center for Manufacturing Excellence. “Unemployment is down from 10.9 percent in December to 8.7 percent in April. That means we’ve had nearly 10,000 new jobs in the past four months.
“Our state is headed in the right direction, and I only see it continuing as our work force remains strong.”
Pointing to the success of the “Mississippi Works” program, the governor said the state recently received national recognition.
“The Frazier Institute ranked Mississippi as the best state in the nation to invest in the oil and gas industry,” he said. “We also moved from 38th to 30th in the country as best state to do business in. That puts us ahead of states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and California.
“Mississippi also received Area Development magazine’s Silver Shovel Award for having not only the most groundbreakings for new business, but also for having the most significant industry start-ups anywhere.”
Bryant credited Japanese auto manufacturers Nissan and Toyota and their suppliers for being largely responsible for the state’s economic turnaround.
“I think the Japanese are the finest auto manufacturers in the world, and Mississippi is proud to have both of these companies in our state,” Bryant said. “No other state can make such a claim.”
The success of the state’s auto industry is a testament to the determination of the state’s workers, he said.
“Mississippi works on so many levels,” Bryant said. “The men and women here show up on time, give a full day’s work for a full day’s wages, often come when infirmed and are loyal to their employers. All of these characteristics appeal to prospective employers. I’m going to Japan and South Korea in September in search of even more industries looking to expand their operations. There are some very good opportunities here.”
Turning attention to taxes, Bryant said collections for this fiscal year are expected to be $185 million more than in 2011, including an estimated $14 million in confiscated federal tax refunds wrongfully sent to people who were unemployed but filed as if they had been working.
The university is honored that the facility was selected for the meeting site, said James Vaughan, CME director.
“The CME is a new member of MAMA and hosting this meeting was like our induction ceremony,” Vaughan said. “Our program is unlike any other in the nation in that it gives our students both the practical experience and the academic education required to be in manufacturing.”
The 2012 MAMA Award of Excellence was presented to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi during the meeting. David Copenhaver, vice president of administration at TMMMS, accepted the honor. Mississippi Development Authority Director Brent Christensen and UM Chancellor Dan Jones also attended.
“The University of Mississippi is glad to have had MAMA here today,” Jones said. “We have a strong commitment at this great American public university to making Mississippi a better place for all to live and work. Let’s continue to dream big and do things together.”
MAMA’s board of directors announced the establishment of two scholarships at the CME. The awards will go to a rising junior and senior majoring in manufacturing.
For more information, visit the Center for Manufacturing Excellence or MAMA.