Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians expanding workforce training
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians recently received more than $60 million in federal grant money to build a Workforce Training Center and industrial park on Tribal land. The training center is expected to be operational in early 2027. Hayden Nickey, economic development specialist for the band, said it will allow them to expand on the workforce development and training they are already offering. "Overall, we're just trying to help increase employment in the county and the state. We're looking to bring in people who are interested in working with the tribe, whether that's the soft skills or hard skill jobs," Nickey explained. They will train people for trade jobs such as electrical work, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. The center will include spaces for classrooms, computer labs and offices. Both facilities will be located in the Pearl River Community in Neshoba County. The 191-acre industrial park is slated to open in the fall of 2030. Nickey added they are currently in meetings with tenants for the facility. "They have a specified number of jobs they want to bring in. What trainings and stuff are they going to need? What's the age range of stuff they're looking for? And then
