ARC’s Appalachia Builds conference brings regional leaders to Mississippi State

Contact: James Carskadon

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Appalachian Regional Commission brought its 2026 annual conference, Appalachia Builds: Breaking New Ground for Economic Growth, to Mississippi State University this week.

Co-hosted by ARC States’ Co-Chair and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and the State of Mississippi, the conference brought together federal, state and local leaders from across the Appalachian region to explore strategies for strengthening economic development, workforce participation and long-term growth.

ARC’s annual conference serves as a chance for regional partners to share best practices and innovative approaches that support economic opportunity across Appalachia. This year’s event emphasized projects and partnerships that strengthen business development and workforce pipelines while supporting resilient local economies.

Gov. Reeves, ARC’s 2026 States’ Co-Chair, said Mississippi State is a fitting location for the conference, noting the university’s longstanding focus on service and applied research.

“Mississippi State is one of the great universities in America,” Reeves said. “And its mission has always been rooted in service. This university prepares students for high-paying careers, supports research that strengthens industry, and works directly with communities to solve real-world problems. That is exactly the kind of practical results-oriented approach that ARC has championed for decades.”

ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin emphasized the conference’s focus on expanding opportunity and strengthening communities.

“It is realizing that where you're born and your zip code should never define your opportunity or the possibilities that you have in this life, but it also should not decide that in order to reach those possibilities that you have to leave the region you love and the people you love,” Manchin said. “That’s why Appalachia Builds is so important, so that we never lose sight of what we can do and what we can strive to do. There is not anything that Appalachians can’t do if we stand together.”

MSU President Mark E. Keenum welcomed attendees and highlighted the university’s collaboration with ARC in advancing economic opportunity across the region.

“ARC works hand-in-hand with our states to help our people prosper,” Keenum said. “That’s what we are doing at Mississippi State University as well. We’re educating the future leaders that our state and nation need. We’re working with business and industry to create more jobs, and we are meeting critical needs in communities by working with outstanding partners like ARC. It’s an honor to work with so many people in this room to help solve problems, expand economic opportunity, and improve quality of life.”

MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension led a session focused on BOOST MS—Bringing Operational Optimization & Smart Technology to Mississippi—an ARC-supported pilot program designed to help small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt Industry 4.0 technologies while strengthening workforce education and training pipelines. The session outlined how the program is assisting small-and-medium sized manufacturers in Mississippi’s ARC footprint as they integrate new technologies and processes in a sustainable way that increases competitiveness and opportunity.

“This is a very collaborative effort with our business partners,” said CAVS Extension Director Tonya McCall. “We’re listening to their needs and providing a roadmap for using advanced technology to improve productivity, efficiency and competitiveness. We’re not just introducing new technology and walking away.”

The Appalachian Regional Commission is a federal–state partnership that advances economic growth and opportunity across Appalachia by investing in community capacity, workforce development and innovative regional projects. For more, visit arc.gov.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.