EMCC ‘Communiversity’ grant

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), announced Sept. 26 the award of a $6.1 million federal grant to support construction of a workforce training facility – being called a “Communiversity” – to focus on increasing Mississippi’s advanced manufacturing and engineering capabilities in such areas as the aerospace industry. The grant will go to East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) and the training facility will be located at the entrance to the Golden Triangle Regional Global Industrial Aerospace Park in Lowndes County. The nearly 140,000 square-foot-facility is to accommodate EMCC’s Manufacturing Technology & Engineering Division with courses related to training advanced manufacturing workers. It is intended to enhance the region’s manufacturing sector by supporting workforce development for industries such as Airbus Helicopters Inc. and Yokohama Tire that already call the Golden Triangle home. (Source: U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran 09/26/15)