LtoR: Dr. Valmadge T. Towner, 5th President, Coahoma Community College, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 2nd Congressional
District, • Undersecretary Torres Small, USDA-RD, Dr. Corey Wiggins, Federal Co-Chair, Delta Regional Authority, & Steven Jossell, Executive Director, CCC Workforce Development Center
CLARKSDALE, MS – The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has announced that $2,051,027 will be invested into Coahoma Community College's (CCC) Workforce Development Center. The funds will aid CCC in expanding and renovating the Ned W. Gathwright Workforce Development Center with the ultimate aim of growing workforce training and services within CCC's five-county service area.
Dr. Corey Wiggins, DRA Federal Co-Chair, is excited to offer assistance that he believes will immediately impact countless individuals in Coahoma Community College's five-county service area and beyond.
"It's an exciting opportunity to make an investment in workforce in the context of this funding going to Coahoma Community College," said Wiggins. "Coahoma is a stable institution in the Delta region, and it is a historic institution that has done work in the past and present to really shift and change lives."
The funding, which comes at a time of unprecedented support offered throughout the DRA region, will support the construction of an additional 4,477 square feet of space at the Clarksdale-based center, adding a manufacturing training lab, classroom, and office space. Additionally, the project will fund the renovation of the existing structure.
Steven Jossell, executive director of the CCC Workforce Development Center, is appreciative of the support from all vantage points. He sees this investment as a huge value-add to CCC, its surrounding communities, and the Delta region.
“It is a wonderful, inexplicable feeling to be the recipient of an essential financial blessing to expand the Coahoma Community College Workforce Development Center,” said Jossell. “The additional space will provide the capacity to train more individuals and increase the talent pipeline for employers. In a nutshell, the extra space will afford resources to retain more instructors, offer more classes, and address business/industry needs relative to growth.”
"Anytime we can make investments that will allow us to support workforce development and add more workforce training in the region is a plus. Also, it's always a great opportunity to do it in a way that will highlight the work of our Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)," Wiggins added.
Founded in 1949, Coahoma Community College is the lone HBCU among Mississippi's 15 community colleges. The institution is located in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and stands alongside more than 40 HBCUs that find themselves situated in DRA's service area.
At a time when HBCUs have been a hot topic in news and media, Dr. Wiggins feels that beyond the current buzz, these minority-serving institutions need uplift now more than ever. He added that the history, legacies, and general positive outcomes produced by these historic institutions should be supported and nurtured —all actions that would aid in creating a strong DRA region.
"It's a great opportunity to have an impact," said Wiggins regarding the support of HBCUs. "The DRA region is an HBCU-rich and minority-serving region. It makes good business sense to develop strong relationships with these institutions because of the work they are doing."
A key component of the work Wiggins spoke of is done through the actions of the CCC Workforce Development Center. The unit provides a variety of services and acts as the liaison between Coahoma Community College, the business community, and the workforce. Through this funding opportunity, CCC has planned new initiatives and forged new partnerships to turn an unsteady trajectory in its service area.
"I cannot speak enough on the impact that Coahoma has had in the Delta, even prior to my appointment to this role," said Wiggins. "I learned about the role Coahoma Community College has played in this region in not only shifting and changing the lives of its students and acting as an economic driving by helping to build a competent and capable workforce."
Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District and Undersecretary Torres Small, USDA-RD were present and made remarks at the historic announcemement.
###
About the Delta Regional Authority
DRA was established in 2000 as a formal framework for joint Federal-State collaboration to promote and encourage the economic development of the lower Mississippi River region and Alabama Black Belt.
DRA invests in projects supporting transportation infrastructure, basic public infrastructure, workforce training, and business development. DRA's mission is to help create jobs, build communities, and improve the lives of those who reside in the 252 counties and parishes of the eight-state region.
About Coahoma Community College
Coahoma Community College is an accredited public comprehensive institution of higher learning committed to providing accessible, affordable, diverse, and quality educational programs and services. The ninety-nine-acre campus lies in an agrarian setting along Clarksdale-Friars Point Road near the Mississippi River, which forms the western boundary of Coahoma County. Bordered on the east by a quiet and picturesque lake, the school site is conducive to wholesome recreation as well as to serious study.