Link on the move for Golden Triangle

Mississippi’s Golden Triangle Development Link members met Wednesday at East Mississippi Community College to organize and tout the quickly-moving benefits of the regional partnership and spread its thinking globally, according to Link CEO Joe Higgins. Former Mississippi State University President Dr. Mac Portera told attendees that technology would be the new currency in the future and that the aerospace and automotive industries – which he expects the current 70-30 percent mechanical-technology base be reversed in five years -- are ripe for growth in the state. Source: Columbus [Miss.] Dispatch, Dec. 20, 2012.

Governor reaffirms support for aviation industry

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, speaking at a General Electric Aviation Suppliers Symposium on Tuesday at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the aerospace industry and continuing efforts to educate its citizenry as a work-force supplier. GE Aviation has two aerospace industry plants in Mississippi, the second of which is at Ellisville and is projected to open in 2013. The new facility will join GEA’s Batesville factory, which opened in 2008 and manufactures advanced composite components for aircraft engines and systems. GE Aviation expects to invest $150 million in the two locations by the end of the decade. Source: University of Mississippi, Dec. 4, 2012.

MSU aerospace team to compete in NASA launch initiative

A team of Mississippi State University students will join organizers of the 7th annual NASA University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) – along with Vanderbilt and other American universities’ aerospace inventions – to soar over the Marshall Space Flight Center in northern Alabama on April 21. In all, 36 teams will compete for the $5,000 first-place prize to be awarded by ATK Aerospace Group of Salt Lake City. Teams will design and build high-powered rockets with working payloads capable of flying to a altitude of one mile. NASA created the rocketry challenge to encourage young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related fields. Source: Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, Nov. 30, 2012.