Trent Lott National Center
The University of Southern Mississippi is a long-recognized leader in motivating and educating the next generation of economic developers and entrepreneurs.
To that end the university has enhanced its commitment to promoting and fostering economic development in the Gulf South region with the opening of the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development & Entrepreneurship building on campus.
Quality of life, financial impact
Already a major economic force, the university impacts the quality of life in Hattiesburg and surrounding South Mississippi region by offerings of arts, athletic and other events and services.
Southern Miss generates dollars that are put back into the economy in the form of employee payroll, university spending, student expenditures, visitor spending, athletics, research grants and alumni donations.
Direct university employment alone generates a payroll of approximately $94 million. Coupled with secondary jobs and related income, the economic impact swells to more than $125 million.
Outreach promotes economic prosperity
The university vision and outreach mission are fundamental and crucial to the long-term growth and economic prosperity for those who live and work in this area. Southern Miss is constantly striving to make a positive impact on the economic climate by:
- Creating a climate that provides more jobs for graduates
- Nurturing ideas into viable businesses
- Creating linkages with the state’s existing and prospective businesses
- Linking university human capital and knowledge with the economic development community
Economic development's new home
A major component of this important undertaking is the new Trent Lott National Center, led by Director Rick Duke. Named in honor of the longtime U.S. senator, the Trent Lott National Center building houses:
- the Department of Economic and Workforce Development
- the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security
- the Center for Logistics, Trade and Transportation
Degree programs and training
Knowledge and human capital remain the driving forces within the academic program through the Department of Economic and Workforce Development at Southern Miss. The department offers several degree programs including a bachelor’s degree in Applied Technology.
Graduate students may pursue a master’s degree in either Economic Development or Workforce Training and Development, and a doctoral degree is offered in Human Capital Development.
The department also features the Jack and Patti Phillips Workplace Learning and Performance Institute, which offers a training and development certificate program aimed at human resource, trainers and development professionals.
A commitment to economic change
At The University of Southern Mississippi, fostering economic development and prosperity is more than an idealistic concept. It is a responsibility as a viable member of our ever-changing community – a fact not lost on the man for whom the Trent Lott Center is named.
“As the building was nearing completion, I realized this (economic development) is a science like anything else,” Lott says. “It’s not something that just happens. So I was convinced we needed more economic developers, and now USM can be the place where they are trained.”
