/$5 million ‘hub’ expands effort to close skills gap, increase tech firm investment in Mississippi

$5 million ‘hub’ expands effort to close skills gap, increase tech firm investment in Mississippi

Water Valley Manufacturing Inc. was once the “economic hub” that symbolized the decline of the garment sector. The co-founders and leaders of Base Camp Coding Academy announced the rebirth of Everest, a technology center and education center. Everest will house the coding academy as well as programs at Northwest Mississippi Community College. It is funded with federal and state historical tax credits, new market tax credit, grants and private donations. The community college was a partner and shared the cost of an instructor who would teach Base Camp students workforce development courses. Students also received college credit. Northwest and Everest will work together to expand its adult education and workforce development programs, as well as dual enrollment. This building was a success story through the ’50s to ’60s and ’70s to ’80s. It fell into disuse when the garment manufacturing industry moved offshore. Glen Evans, cofounder of Base Camp, said that the building has been abandoned for nearly 30 years. “Now, fast forward, it’s coming back to life as an tech center hub for the new industry based upon the new economy based on the new economic not the old.” Base Camp was founded in 2016 by Evans, Kagan Coughlin and is a non-profit that offers computer programming and coding training to “under-advantaged high school graduates.” The program lasts for a year and costs around $15,000, but students are eligible to receive scholarships. Over 40 graduates have been served by the program and are currently employed at companies like FedEx or C Spire. The founders admit that the program can be difficult to enter and finish. Students are nominated by teachers, business owners, counselors, and advisers. Students are required to complete an application and pass an aptitude test after being nominated. Two interview sessions are required for applicants. Students are required to attend two interview sessions. In June students start class for 40 hours per week in a class of about 20 students. Every quarter, students are evaluated by board members on three principles: professionalism, community, and technical ability. They are allowed to continue the program and graduate if they have been cleared. “You can’t miss days. The curriculum moves so quickly. We turn to FedEx and C Spire at the end of the school year and tell them, “This is not a child.” They just completed a year of work experience. “Here’s their performance,” Coughlin stated. The Everest opening will see an increase in the number of students who are enrolled. Although the founders sought to fill a need in the tech sector for regional employers, it was difficult at first to get the support of local and state leaders as well as the community. Coughlin said that the attitude has changed and more people are talking about a tech workforce. Coughlin said, “When we mentioned software development and programming, it was a blank stare. Coughlin stated that if we spoke to executives at companies, they would know it immediately because they were always trying to find talent. “All those who were thinking about workforce development or education didn’t know that this was happening. I would guess it has in the past four years.” With a population of just over 3,000, the top industries are manufacturing, education and health care. This is similar to rural towns. Census Reporter says that Water Valley, 25 miles south from Oxford, has a median household income of $38,000. “I believe we all agree that proving a concept is the most important thing. The first three years of Base Camp were simply that. Let’s try this. Let’s start by reporting every metric that we can, then we’ll meet in three years to see if it’s worthwhile continuing or not,” Cagan stated. “Soon as you can see a dozen children step out of rural Mississippi at 19 years old and they’re making $50,000 (with no student debt), those grandparents and parents are asking, ‘What?'” Facebook, through its Facebook for Education initiatives, has promised to provide scholarships for Mississippi students for two consecutive year as their first investment in Mississippi. Chris Randle, Facebook’s manager of public policy, stated that they hope these students will go out to find jobs in technology, computer science, and develop their careers as innovators of tomorrow. “I would be remiss to say that it was Congressman Bennie Thomson who championed education and opportunity in this congressional district and said to technology companies including Facebook, they all needed to invest in Mississippi.” Evans stated when Evans was asked about the purpose of the center’s tech center. Evans stated that they would recruit business sponsors and provide a coworking space for start up businesses. He said, “Imagine the benefits of potential employers being across the hallway from their future employees.” Donald Gray, Water Valley Mayor, agreed that the project would bring about “great change” in the city’s economic, social and physical aspects. “The physical aspect is going to make the city much more beautiful. I cannot even begin to imagine the economic. Gray stated that Gray hoped that many of these students would return to build homes and become taxpayers. These kids are proof that it is possible to make a decent living, and they do so by starting off well. They feel better about themselves and their families.”