Accelerate Mississippi asks for $5.3 million to support operations, data systems and grant-making

Courtney Taylor, executive director of Accelerate Mississippi, briefed the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the agencyprograms and a one-page budget ask for FY26.

Taylor said Accelerate operates Talent Solutions, the career coach program (203 career coaches statewide), the Mississippi Works Fund and Equip Mississippi (a K-12 equipment grant program). For FY26 the office requested $5,300,000 to cover operations and data-systems support, including $3,100,000 for personnel-related increases and two new positions (communications specialist and database specialist), as well as level funding for career coaches.

On the data platform, Taylor asked for $500,000 to enhance the user experience of a uniform data-management system that the office received $1,500,000 to begin building last year. She said the $500,000 would not expand program scope but would improve reporting and usability for stakeholders.

Committee members praised Accelerate's early work and asked about technology, vendor selection, staffing and the office's decision to right-size ecosystem coordinators from 10 to five with expanded responsibilities. Taylor said the office has adjusted staffing using project funds and is refining internal operations to support larger projects.

The hearing recorded the request and committee feedback; no appropriation vote occurred during the session.