2004 High Priority Blueprint Mississippi Recommendations

VISION
A prosperous, vibrant and resilient Mississippi, built upon a foundation of economic opportunity for all its citizens.

MISSION
To create a strategic business plan, a blueprint, that provides opportunity for continuous and significant improvements in the standard of living across all regions of Mississippi. This sustainable, trackable program of work will serve as a road map to success by nurturing the business climate, improving education and advancing economic development through a partnership among business, education and government. 

Goal
Establish and sustain an economic development vision and strategic plan for Mississippi.
Recommendation
Activate and strengthen the Statewide Economic Development Planning Act of 1987.
ACCOMPLISHED
– GOVERNOR CREATES MOMENTUM MISSISSIPPI, A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

Goal
Strengthen Mississippi's business image.
Recommendation
Initiate an image study to identify internal and external perceptions of Mississippi.
Develop and implement a coordinated, sustained internal and external marketing plan; monitor progress on a recurring basis.
Promote urban revitalization programs to improve the quality of life in cities.
ACCOMPLISHED
-TWO STUDIES COMPLETED – GIVEN TO MDA FOR INCORPORATION INTO PLANS
- MS MAIN STREET PROGRAM ENHANCED

Goal
Enhance competitiveness of legal environment.
Recommendation
Promote recent enhancements to Mississippi's legal and liability system.
Maintain ongoing efforts to ensure recently enacted legislative reforms are properly implemented and maintained.
ACCOMPLISHED
– AFTER TORT REFORM PASSED, ENHANCEMENTS PROMOTED
– AMICUS BRIEFS FILED TO PROTECT EXISTING SUCCESSES
– FORTUNE MAGAZINE SECTION PROMOTED SUCCESSES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING TORT REFORM

Goal
Better Prepare Children for School
Recommendation
Expand and improve pre-Kindergarten programs in all areas of the state.
ACCOMPLISHED
– MS BUILDING BLOCKS LAUNCHED AND SUPPORT FOR IT BUILT IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS
-- STRONGER COORDINATION IN PLACE AMONG EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS
– QUALITY RATING STANDARDS NOW IN PLACE FOR RATING EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING INFORMATION TO PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES
– EXCEL BY FIVE PROGRAM GROWN FROM PILOT TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE

Goal
Maximize the number of people graduating from high school.
Recommendation
Underscore the linkage between education and employment, targeting middle school students.
ACCOMPLISHED
– ON THE BUS PROGRAM LAUNCHED
– OFFICE OF DROP OUT PREVENTION CREATED
– MORE RIGOROUS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS UPGRADED TO COORDINATE WITH NATIONAL STANDARDS AND REPORTING
– CHILDREN FIRST ACT I & II PASSED ALLOWING STATE TO REMOVE FAILING MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS
-- MISSISSIPPI SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOCUSING ON ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO TAKE A MORE RIGOROUS COURSE OF STUDY GROWN FROM HUNDREDS OF GRADUATES TO OVER 13,000

Goal
Diversity and improve Mississippi's economic base.
Recommendation
Identify and pursue high value, high growth industry targets in both manufacturing and services; align incentives and resources around these targets.
Increase public and private research and development funding and improve the effectiveness of technology transfer and capital accessibility programs to help commercialize innovations.
ACCOMPLISHED
– SIGNIFICANT CHANGES MADE IN MDA RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES
– TARGETING INCENTIVES AROUND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND HIGH TECH INDUSTRIES

Goal
Train, mentor, and retain more and better teachers.
Recommendation
Establish a system to retain the best teachers and increase the supply of teachers in high-demand subject areas.
ACCOMPLISHED
– SUCCESSFUL WORK ADMINISTRATIVELY IN STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
– INCENTIVES PASSED FOR TEACHERS TO REMAIN TEACHING LONGER
– TEACHER RETIREMENT SERVICE CHANGED FROM 25 TO 30 YEARS