AGP Executive Report

Workforce & local media funding: The National Newspaper Association joined a broad coalition urging California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign AB 2222, which would create refundable employment tax credits to help local newsrooms hire and retain journalists—an issue Mississippi communities also feel as local reporting capacity shrinks. Agriculture & training: Mississippi State University Extension’s “AI to Answers” program is getting USDA-backed funding to help agricultural entrepreneurs and county Extension staff use AI for digital marketing through stackable credentials. Maritime jobs & logistics: The Corn Belt Ports Rural Maritime and Logistics Training and Education Consortium earned a 2026 MARAD Center of Excellence designation, boosting training tied to the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway freight corridors. Energy leadership: Southern States Energy Board elected Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón as chair, highlighting grid resilience and generation upgrades—an energy policy signal for the region. Mississippi engineering recognition: MSU aerospace professor Shreyas Narsipur was named an AIAA Associate Fellow for work in aerodynamics and flight systems. Flood mitigation ideas: Mississippi Sen. Jeremy England is looking to Dutch flood-control technology for rapid-deploy barriers after Gulf Coast flooding. Public safety: Mississippi AG Lynn Fitch announced a McComb-area man’s sentencing for child sexual abuse material crimes, including 40-year terms.

Auto Manufacturing: Nissan is weighing a third production shift at its Tennessee plant, which would boost U.S. output to about 1 million vehicles, up from roughly 487,000 in 2025; the company also runs a Mississippi plant in Canton making the Altima and Frontier. Steel & Jobs: Louisiana’s bond commission approved up to $1.3 billion in tax-free financing for a planned Hyundai-POSCO steel mill in Ascension Parish, expected to create 1,300+ direct jobs and support a nearby workforce training center. Water Infrastructure: The U.S. House passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA) by a 415-9 vote, aiming to improve ports, inland waterways, flood risk management, and Army Corps project delivery. Logistics & Shipping: Baltic Exchange reports show mixed dry-bulk conditions, with capesize rates softer early in the week while Atlantic demand helped sentiment stabilize late. Community & Workforce: Develon is expanding in the Southeast with three new full-service equipment dealerships, including TraxPlus in East Mississippi, adding parts and service for forestry, mulching and construction gear. Local Spotlight: WellsFest returns Sept. 26 in Jackson to benefit Shower Power, supporting free hygiene services, meals, shelter and clothing for people experiencing homelessness.

Ole Miss-LSU Impact: Trinidad Chambliss powered No. 8 Ole Miss to a 32-24 win over No. 7 LSU in Lane Kiffin’s return, flipping the weekend’s momentum and reshaping the Coaches and AP Top 25. Airport Construction: Meridian Regional Airport is nearing completion on its new terminal, with the north parking lot closed for paving and the southern entrance still open; officials say the building is mostly done but needs interior items and outside work. Heavy Equipment Dealerships: Develon is expanding across the Southeast with three new full-service dealerships, including TraxPlus in East Mississippi, adding sales, parts, and shop/field service for construction and forestry equipment. Marine & Maritime Careers: The EYC Foundation awarded scholarships to 12 students pursuing marine and maritime paths, including new recipients studying marine engineering and logistics. Delta Events: Mighty Roots Music Festival returns Sept. 25-26 at Stovall Farms near Clarksdale with 12 bands, food trucks, camping, and Delta Council’s Future Delta farmer programming. Shipping & Metals: A copper surge is straining New Orleans-area terminals, with logistics providers moving metal up the Mississippi by barge as congestion delays loading. Food Safety Recall: Walmart’s Great Value frozen berry blend recall in multiple states is tied to possible E. coli contamination, with guidance to discard or return affected lots.

Mississippi Politics & Media: Three Mississippi Republicans—U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson, and AG Lynn Fitch—spent more than $25,000 on ads during the Ole Miss vs. LSU game, using the high viewership around Lane Kiffin’s return. Transportation & Industry: Interstate 14, the “Forts to Ports Route,” is planned to link Georgia to Texas and connect Mississippi cities like Meridian, Laurel and Natchez to Gulfport, but progress has stalled with only 25 miles completed in Texas so far. Public Safety & Logistics: A Mississippi state senator is urging Sen. Roger Wicker to help pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) after federal charges in a Memphis cargo theft scheme that included an Olive Branch suspect. STEM & Workforce Pipeline: The 11th annual Mississippi Science Fest brings hands-on STEAM activities to Jackson’s LeFleur Museum District on Sept. 19, with a single ticket covering multiple museums. Energy & Infrastructure: National gas prices rose to about $4.44 a gallon as crude stays near $100, with demand and supply both increasing week over week. Mississippi Sports (Local Economy Angle): Ole Miss beat LSU 32-24 in Oxford as Trinidad Chambliss led the offense, a matchup that also drove major regional attention and spending.

Mississippi River Commerce: Lock and Dam 7 in La Crescent opened its doors during Apple Fest, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers keeps the navigation channel running for everything from kayaks to towboats—highlighting the economic scale of barge transport. Energy & Policy: The U.S. hosted a G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, with U.S. officials signaling a push toward expanded domestic energy production and permitting reform. Grid Manufacturing in Mississippi: Hitachi Energy is moving ahead with a $528 million transformer factory in Mississippi, aiming to double U.S. transformer output and boost grid capacity. Workforce & Education: Southern Miss extended a scholarship program designed to grow Mississippi’s “blue economy,” covering tuition and fees for MBA students focused on engineering, business, and entrepreneurship. Public Health Alert: The FDA issued a Class II warning tied to a hand soap recall in 15 states over possible bacterial contamination. Local Economy: Mississippi job counts hit a new high in August as unemployment fell to 3.4%, according to reporting.

Mississippi Housing Pressure: Starkville renters and homebuyers are getting squeezed as apartments drop out of HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program, leaving residents like Yolanda Young facing steep rent hikes and uncertainty at lease end. Healthcare Policy: President Trump says all 50 states (plus DC and Puerto Rico) will get “most favored nation” pricing for Medicaid drug rebates under the GENEROUS model, aiming for about $65B in Medicaid savings over a decade. Port & River Infrastructure: A judge allowed a lawsuit to proceed over the Port of New Orleans’ plan for a new container terminal in St. Bernard Parish, a move tied to Mississippi River shipping capacity. Delta Leadership: The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus held its first retreat in the Delta in Greenville, focusing on voting, education, healthcare, economic opportunity and infrastructure ahead of 2027. Wetlands Research Funding: National Geographic’s Blue Boundaries program awarded grants for Mississippi River watershed wetland studies, including fertilizer runoff impacts and wildlife health. Public Safety & Industry: Mississippi and Oklahoma National Guard Chinooks are helping Arkansas fight the Bunker Fire near major defense contractors.

Mississippi Jobs: Gov. Tate Reeves says Mississippi hit a record 1,199,800 nonfarm jobs in August, with unemployment falling to 3.4%. Energy & Manufacturing: Hitachi Energy’s $528 million transformer investment in Copiah County is cited as a major driver of the state’s momentum. Wildfire Response: Oklahoma and Mississippi National Guard aviation crews are helping Arkansas fight the Bunker Fire near Camden, using Chinook helicopters with 2,000-gallon Bambi buckets. Healthcare Policy: Trump announced Medicaid “most favored nation” drug pricing in all 50 states under the GENEROUS model, aiming for about $65 billion in Medicaid drug savings over a decade. Defense & Security Tech: MSU, the Mississippi National Guard and the FBI co-hosted the inaugural Magnolia Crucible forum at Camp Shelby, focusing on unmanned aircraft and counter-UAS readiness. River & Shipping Ops: A live webcam for Locks and Dam 15 is back, and the USACE Rock Island District highlighted mitigation banking and navigation improvements like mooring cells to speed barge traffic. Local Infrastructure: Clinton is weighing replacing bumpy brick crosswalks on the Parkway with smoother stamped concrete. Manufacturing Expansion: Industrial Timber is expanding in Ripley with a $2.6 million investment and plans for a new 36,000-square-foot building and added machinery.

Energy & Costs: AAA says the national regular gas average is $4.4386, up 16 cents week over week, as crude stays near $100 a barrel and demand rises; diesel is also spiking, with record prices hitting livestock haulers and squeezing producers from fuel, to trucking rates, to feedlot transport. Agriculture & Logistics: Grain markets are mixed and shipping is under pressure—higher freight costs, Asia weather disruptions, and Panama Canal limits are tightening capacity for U.S. grain exports. Workforce & Education: LSU’s fall career expo drew about 2,000 students and 258 employers, while MGCCC is expanding skilled trades with Lowe’s Foundation grants to help close the labor gap. Manufacturing & Health Tech: Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center installed Philips Rembra CT for faster emergency imaging, and Hitachi Energy is backing a major Mississippi transformer push. Local Policy & Infrastructure: Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson issued guidance allowing excused absences for certain 4-H and State Fair events, and Mississippi River mayors are coordinating on data center proposals and impacts. Community & Safety: Heat risks are continuing into September, and Mississippi River levee upgrades in New Orleans are moving forward with a study aimed at stronger storm surge protection.

Skilled Trades Pipeline: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is expanding electrical and construction management training with $1.7 million in Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grants, aiming to close the skilled trades gap. Forestry Partnership: Gov. Tate Reeves signed a shared stewardship agreement to coordinate forest management with federal agencies, targeting healthier forests, wildfire risk reduction, and stronger timber markets. Manufacturing Investment: Hitachi Energy’s $528 million transformer factory plans in Mississippi are moving forward, signaling more U.S. grid manufacturing capacity. Health & Safety Watch: Walmart shoppers are being warned about recalled food items, including frozen berries tied to possible E. coli contamination, with affected products sold in Mississippi. Community Development: Jackson is planning a 30-acre Riverfront Park—an old landfill-to-“front porch” green space—pending fundraising and permits. Local Government & Courts: Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas died at 72; a special election will be set for his seat. Infrastructure Updates: Monroe, La. begins a Beauregard Street closure Monday for a major force main installation, and Hancock County, Miss. reports overnight I-10 lane closures. Workforce & Weather: Mississippi workers face continued heat risks into September, with public safety and dispatch crews adjusting to protect staff.

Major Industry Investment: Hitachi Energy is moving ahead with a $528 million transformer manufacturing push in Mississippi, including a Copiah County expansion expected to add about 654 jobs and double U.S. transformer output. Food Safety: The FDA classified a recall of six hand soaps sold in 15 states, including Mississippi, tied to possible bacterial contamination; regulators say the risk is temporary or medically reversible. Local Infrastructure: West Feliciana Parish leaders are weighing options to repair flood-damaged bridges to Cat Island after FEMA funded only part of the replacement, affecting timber hauling and soybean access. Mississippi Health & Workforce: Mississippi seafood workers can take a free three-day food safety workshop from the state marine resources agency, with participants earning an AFDO certificate. Education-to-Workforce: USM students networked with Pine Belt business leaders at “Experience Business Casually,” focusing on professional skills like resumes, etiquette, and communication. Energy Costs Watch: GasBuddy reports show premium prices in Mississippi remain volatile, with some counties seeing brief dips around early September.

Mississippi Meta Settlement: Attorney General Lynn Fitch laid out a plan to spend Mississippi’s $189M share of the national Meta lawsuit, targeting more than $18M a year for the next decade across three state agencies, with mental-health and child-safety advocates warning the choices could shape outcomes for years. Grid & Manufacturing: Hitachi Energy says it will open a $528M transformer factory in Gallman, expanding Mississippi production and adding 700+ jobs, as demand for electricity and grid upgrades keeps rising. Energy Costs & Data Centers: The U.S. House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act to stop data centers from shifting electricity and grid upgrade costs onto local ratepayers, though state-level hurdles remain. River & Infrastructure: Mayors along the Mississippi River met in Natchez to coordinate on water supply security and AI infrastructure needs, including grid and freshwater demands. Coastal Resilience: MSU and The Nature Conservancy installed 100-foot breakwaters off Hiller Park to slow shoreline erosion and protect habitat. Public Health: FDA issued multiple hand-soap recalls in Mississippi and other states due to possible bacterial contamination.

Transformer Boom: Gov. Tate Reeves says Hitachi Energy will invest $528 million to expand transformer manufacturing in Copiah County (Gallman), with construction starting later this year and production slated for 2029; the project is expected to add at least 654 jobs and help close a U.S. transformer gap driven by data centers and electrification. Local Economy & Jobs: The same expansion is framed as a major boost for Mississippi’s industrial base, with state and company leaders pointing to broader “ripple” effects for nearby businesses. Energy Costs Watch: Analysts warn gas prices could jump sharply across multiple states as global oil supply pressures from Ukraine and Iran tighten, with diesel and gasoline both expected to rise over the next 48 hours. River Cleanup: Xcel Energy’s 16th annual Mississippi River Day of Service pulled several hundred pounds of glass and trash from normally submerged shoreline areas around Monticello and Becker. Starkville Data Center Debate: Starkville denied a crypto-mining plant exemption after residents raised concerns about transparency, noise, and impacts on animals, while proponents argued it would support the local economy. Workforce & Community: Lowndes County approved a FY2027 budget with employee raises and capital projects without a tax-rate increase, citing growth tied to the county’s industrial base.

Energy Manufacturing: Gov. Tate Reeves announced Hitachi Energy will invest $528 million in a new transformer factory in Copiah County, creating 654 jobs; construction is set to start later this year with production targeted for 2029, with state support through MFLEX. Defense & Maritime Tech: Ocean Aero is expanding its Gulfport facility, adding 20,000 square feet and 45 jobs to boost production of its Triton Generation 4 underwater vehicle. Local Tourism & Small Business: The Henry Smith House in Picayune won a 2026 Mississippi Small Business Center Network destination venue award after logging 114 special events in a year. Workforce & Industry Readiness: Mississippi county supervisors got a crash course on data centers as the industry expands statewide, focusing on practical questions like utilities, water use, and local impacts. Public Health: Childhood vaccination rates are slipping in 14 Mississippi counties, with several below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. Fuel Watch: Diesel and gas prices remain elevated in Mississippi, with GasBuddy reporting the lowest diesel in Mississippi County at $5.19 (week ending Sept. 5) and premium/midgrade prices also trending up statewide. Ag Tech: Mississippi State’s Ag Autonomy Institute says AI is moving toward plant-level detection and targeted inputs, but connectivity and support will shape who benefits.

Healthcare Refunds: The White House says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Mississippi, will get $500 Obamacare overcharge refunds tied to federal exchange “user fees.” Mississippi Wildlife: MDWFP is asking hunters to submit deer heads for chronic wasting disease testing, citing 581 cases since 2018 and 60 free drop-off locations. Construction & Tourism: Madison County approved a new 50,000-square-foot conference center in Ridgeland, paired with a privately financed Dolce by Wyndham hotel, aiming to boost regional meetings and overnight stays. Agriculture Markets: Grain futures were mostly weaker overnight as corn and soybeans lose momentum ahead of the monthly NOPA crush report. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports show midgrade and diesel prices in Mississippi counties remain elevated, with diesel averaging $5.42 statewide for the week ending Sept. 5. Food & Community: Lowe’s sponsorship helped Oxford’s Sleep in Heavenly Peace build beds for families, part of the national “Bunks Across America” push. Manufacturing/Defense: RTX’s Raytheon completed a $50 million expansion of a Mississippi manufacturing facility.

Chronic Wasting Disease Response: Mississippi wildlife officials are asking hunters to submit deer heads for CWD testing, with 60 free drop-off freezers statewide as the state tracks 581 cases since 2018. Agriculture Watch: USDA crop progress shows corn conditions improving slightly—57% rated good-to-excellent, with harvest up to 8%—while soybean ratings held steady. Energy & Costs: Diesel prices remain elevated, with Monroe County’s lowest reported diesel at $4.99 and Mississippi’s diesel average rising to $5.42. Business Leadership: Harps Food Stores announced J. Max Van Hoose will succeed CEO Kim Eskew in early 2027. Logistics & River Trade: Turn Services completed its acquisition of St. John Fleeting, adding fleeting capacity for up to 300 barges near Mile 141 on the Lower Mississippi. Road Construction: Mississippi Transportation Commission updates show bridge replacement work moving on U.S. 80 and U.S. 51 in east-central Mississippi. Local Economy: Lauderdale County expects revenue growth tied to tourism and the Compass data center, already boosting restaurant traffic from construction workers. Industry Recognition: Mississippi Business Journal is taking nominations for its 2026 Women in Business Awards luncheon Oct. 28 in Jackson.

Healthcare Policy: The White House says it will refund about $500 per person for Obamacare overcharges to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Mississippi, after Biden-era “user fees” allegedly inflated premiums. Higher Education Construction: Ole Miss is rolling out a $1.3B campus transformation with about 170 construction projects underway, from housing to utilities and parking. Energy & Oilfield: Southern Energy Corp. reports it drilled and cased the Terrible Creek 21-2 #2 Cotton Valley vertical well in Mississippi’s Williamsburg Field and is moving to completion and testing. Wellness Demand: A Gulf Coast wellness boom is tied to rising GLP-1 interest, plus growth in IV treatments and preventative ultrasounds, with local clinics pushing safer, board-compliant guidance. Agriculture & Markets: The Fed’s Beige Book says Corn Belt farm conditions improved slightly, with crops mostly in good shape but some areas stressed by heavy rains and flooding. Local Infrastructure: Mississippi Power is upgrading Downtown Biloxi’s Howard Avenue lighting with new LED fixtures and taller poles to improve nighttime visibility and safety. Sports Spotlight: ESPN’s College GameDay returns to Oxford for Ole Miss vs. LSU, with Lane Kiffin back on the Ole Miss sideline.