As the college football season approaches, Mississippians pick back up on their water-cooler sports conversations, which inevitably die off each year between the College World Series and SEC Media Days. Just as many of my fellow Mississippians, whether we call ourselves Bulldogs (preferably), Rebels, Golden Eagles, or something else, I pay attention to what happens in college football each weekend during the season.
Further than what happens on Saturdays in college football in the fall, I also keep up with recruiting efforts, and which schools high-rated prep players across the country are considering. Watching this for years, I have seen that players tend to find the school that is the best fit for them (one could argue that lately it’s more about money, but I’ll leave that topic for another day). Do they want prestige? Trophies? Championships? Or do they want immediate playing time? Or a chance to develop their skills in hopes of getting to the next level? Whatever the case may be, there are many options for these recruits, and lately, I have begun to consider how these options are reflective of the choices we can make as Americans.
In the U.S., we as citizens are also blessed with options. 50 of them to be exact; 50 different states with unique landscapes, cultures, and people. In this great country, we are free to find the right one for us.
When it comes to the current moment in our state, a lot of focus has been on Mississippi’s “brain drain” issue. I’m sure most reading this already knows what “brain drain” means, but if not, it essentially means a large number of graduates of our Mississippi universities are finding employment in one of the other 49 states they have to choose from. Mississippians are receiving higher education from here, but taking the skills and knowledge they have learned to another place.
State Auditor Shad White, the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy, and others are offering programs to combat the issue. These will help, of course, but if someone desires a big-city lifestyle like those found in Atlanta, Houston, and Nashville, then Mississippi does not have a city that will satisfy big-city eyes. Therefore, many college graduates are entering the proverbial transfer portal.
While combatting the brain drain is certainly crucial, I haven’t heard much about recruitment IN our state. In the spirit of rhyming, we can call any recruiting efforts “brain gain.” Just like all college football these days, we are going to lose people who see better opportunities for themselves elsewhere, and it is their right to find that place. But also like these football programs, we have much to offer prospective citizens from other American states, who are looking for something different for themselves and their families.
Imagine the state of Mississippi as a Division I football program, and you, Mr. or Ms. Reader, are in charge of recruiting. What are your selling points? What will attract people here? Why should someone choose Mississippi over other states?
Consider the following:
Everyone these days is rightly worried about affordability
Mississippi ranks 2nd in the entire country in affordability.
Parents want a great education for their children
Mississippi’s K-12 education has risen to No. 16 in the nation and has gone up every year for the last four years in that metric.
Moms and Dads want to work in a steady job and provide for their families
The Department of Commerce released a report stating that Mississippi is ranked 2nd in the country for GDP growth in 2024 and ranked 3rd in reshoring jobs in a 2025 projection. Over $20 billion in new investment has been announced in the past couple of years. That means more jobs, which means more families, which means better communities will grow as a result.
These are solid recruiting points. Younger Americans feel that they may not enjoy the same American Dream that their parents have enjoyed. For many Americans, and especially in Mississippi, a family unit is essential to that dream. Good jobs, good schools, and good communities all serve as pillars for helping families thrive. Here in Mississippi, we are on our way to providing these things, along with the added affordability factor, which sets us apart from other states at this moment.
This is not to say that no one has done anything to this effect. The Legislature passed and Gov. Tate Reeves recently signed income tax elimination into law. While the elimination will not take place immediately, this is an effort to attract people and businesses to the state, and it has been shown that states with no income taxes or low-income taxes are proving to be top destinations for relocating families.
In Natchez, a program titled “Shift South” offers relocation incentives for remote employees who move to Mississippi’s oldest city.
I am in full support, and I believe the state should wholeheartedly back the efforts to address brain drain. Along with the efforts to keep our players here, I propose that we should also focus on bringing new players in, because with the massive amount of economic development happening, there are and will continue to be roster spots to fill. We all know Mississippi has some areas to improve, but while we work on improving them, let’s recruit some new players who like what we have to offer.
P.S., I personally know people who have left Mississippi after graduating college to work in places such as Atlanta or Washington, D.C., only to return years later to start their families. I have had many conversations with others who have people in their lives who have done something similar. This allows our graduates to obtain expertise and bring it back to the state they grew up in and call home. These efforts should apply to this population as well.
The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of SuperTalk Mississippi Media.
