MDA director: Automotive and aerospace industries key to international competition

STARKVILLE - Raising salaries through better-paying jobs from aerospace and automobile-related industries is what will move this state from its at-times backwater standing on the national and international economic stage to a more front-runner status, said Mississippi's leading economic developer.

“Those two, around the world say, your people are skilled and you're able to compete,” said Mississippi Development Authority Director Gray Swoope, as he touted the region's newest economic development game pieces in the automotive and aerospace industries, notably, PACCAR and companies like American Eurocopter, Aurora Flight Sciences, and the research and development work of General Electric.“

And I'll tell you, we can compete, and we are,” added Swoope, speaking Monday to the Starkville Rotary Club in what amounted to a pep talk and solid pat on the back to the economic development movers and shakers in the Golden Triangle.

“Economic development is a team sport, and I'll tell you, our legislative team is on board,” the West Point native told the Rotarians.Increasing disposable income with higher-paying jobs must be a major part of the state's economic development strategy, say officials.

“If we're going to move this state forward, we've got to increase the disposable income,” said Swoope. Read more here.