House Bill 801 Summary

• Requires the Mississippi Community College Board to establish and administer a 21st Century Employment grant program for community and junior colleges partnering with workforce development organizations and manufacturers to provide manufacturing training programs.

• Grant applicants must submit plans defining student graduation goals, professional skills curriculum (including communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and work ethic), budgets with outside donations, enrollment projections, and career pathways with college credit and on-the-job training hour transfers.

• Requires private-business contributions not to exceed 40% of total project costs, with priority given to plans demonstrating formal articulation agreements between colleges and industry sector employers; colleges must offer at least 6 industry-recognized certificates.

• Establishes a 16-member advisory board including the Mississippi Economic Council president, state education and employment officials, legislators, and representatives from manufacturing, unions, business, healthcare, and education to review grant recipient progress and recommend certificate guidelines.

• Advisory board shall monitor employment success rates, internship/apprenticeship completion, evaluate whether certificates meet labor force needs, and suggest certificates for future employer recruitment; effective July 1, 2023.