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Entrepreneurs & Business Startups


Small businesses and entrepreneurs play a critical role in Mississippi, not only within supply chains for the Federal, State and local agencies, large government contractors and Federal labs, but as drivers of the regional economy.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem is being cultivated by a variety of people and programs across the state designed to help start-ups and scale-ups achieve their potential. Sectors like the Blue Economy, National Security and Aerospace represent real growth opportunities for innovators in Mississippi.


Business Accelerators & Incubators
Small Business Development Centers
University Entrepreneurial Programs

Business Accelerators & Incubators

Incubators and accelerators offer much more than just physical space to aspiring and growth entrepreneurs and their teams. From access to funding, markets and talent, these programs connect entrepreneurs with mentors, advisors, special services like labs and advanced materials and the knowledge needed to develop business plans and pitches.

Mississippi is fortunate to have incubators and accelerators across the state, as described in the list below.

Business Accelerators & Incubators in Mississippi

Name City Link
North Mississippi Enterprise Initiative, Batesville Enterprise CenterBatesvilleMore info
The Innovation CenterBiloxiMore Info
Northeast Mississippi Business Incubation System Corinth FacilityCorinth
Kemper County Industrial Incubator CenterDeKalb
North Mississippi Enterprise Initiative, Grenada Enterprise CenterGrenadaMore Info
The AcceleratorHattiesburgMore Info
Northeast Mississippi Business Incubation System Iuka FacilityIuka
Mississipi e-Business Innovation Center, Jackson State University e-CenterJacksonMore Info
Venture IncubatorJacksonMore Info
Alcorn State University Research Farm and Technology Transfer CenterLormanMore Info
Winston County Economic Development DistrictLouisvilleMore Info
North Mississippi Enterprise Initiative, Oxford Enterprise CenterOxfordMore Info
Neshoba Business Enterprise CenterPhiladelphiaMore Info
Northeast Mississippi Business Incubation System Tippah FacilityRipley
Golden Triangle Enterprise CenterStarkville
Mississippi e-Center, Mississippi State Business IncubatorStarkvilleMore Info
Powe Center for InnovationStarkvilleMore Info
Mississippi Enterprise for Technology - Technology Transfer CenterStennis More Info
Charles Capp Entrepreneur CenterStonevilleMore Info
Renasant Center for IDEAs Tupelo/Lee County Regional Business Incubator TupeloMore Info
The Innovation HubUniversityMore Info
Alcorn State University Technology IncubatorNatchezMore Info
Jackson County Small Business Incubator LLCMoss PointMore Info
Coahoma County Business Development CenterClarksdaleMore Info
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Small Business Development Centers

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) Sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in partnership with state and local governments, the educational community and the private sector, the SBDC provides business management and technical assistance, training, and research to small business owners to improve their profitability and stimulate growth. The Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network provides the entrepreneur with education and training opportunities which cover a wide range of business topics. Research, both basic and applied, is available, giving the small business person more relevant data from which to draw upon for making decisions. The SBDC also acts as a clearing house by referring clients to other existing business programs, such as those sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Chamber of Commerce and many education institutions, public and private sector organizations. The concept of the SBDC is implemented through the assistance and cooperation of SBA. Nine (9) basic service centers throughout Mississippi are available to assist small business firms.

A Small Business Development Center (SBDC) can offer, at no cost to you, the following services:
- In-depth counseling assistance to ensure more successful startups of new enterprises and to strengthen existing firms;
- Business plans and loan packaging assistance;
- Small business workshops/seminars;
- The Small Business Institute Program;
- Assistance to minorities, women, veterans, the handicapped, exporters, inventors, research and innovation and international trade;
- Referral system linking other small business assistance organizations in the SBDC regional locations; and
- Interaction program between Mississippi educational institutions, businesses, and government.

Contact a Local Counselor

Small Business Development Centers in Mississippi

Name Location City Link
ECCC Carthage Career Advancement CenterECCCCarthageMore Info
ECCC Workforce Development CenterECCCDecaturMore Info
ECCC Mississippi Small Business Development CenterECCCDecaturMore Info
Neshoba Business Enterprise CenterECCCPhiladelphiaMore Info
GC MSBDC, The Innovation CenterGulf Coast CCBiloxiMore Info
HCC MSBDC/ITCHinds CCRaymondMore Info
JSU MSBDCJSUJacksonMore Info
MSU MSBDCMSUStarkvilleMore Info
MSU MSBDC - MeridianMSUMeridianMore Info
UMSBDCUMUniversityMore Info
UMSBDC-Desoto CountyUMHernandoMore Info
UMSBDC-Desoto CountyUMSouthavenMore Info
UMSBDC-Desoto CountyUMOlive BranchMore Info
UMSBDC-Grenada CountyUMGrenadaMore Info
UMSBDC Business Assistance Center-TupeloUMTupeloMore Info
UMSBDC-Panola CountyUMBatesvilleMore Info
UMSBDC-Tate CountyUMSenatobiaMore Info
UMSBDC-Tunica CountyUMTunicaMore Info
USM Small Business Development CenterUSMHattiesburgMore Info
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University Entrepreneurial Programs

Mississippi universities offer a wide range of educational programs and courses for entrepreneurship. Within the university setting, these programs provide would-be entrepreneurs with access to business courses, experiential learning, faculty with sector and subject matter expertise, networking opportunities, university resources and community connections. Some universities have unique capabilities in key technologies that are available to the student entrepreneur. 

University Entrepreneurial Programs in Mississippi

University Name City Link
Millsaps Business Advantage ProgramJackson More Info
Mississippi College Accounting CertificateClintonMore Info
Mississippi e-Center, Mississippi State Business IncubatorStarkvilleMore Info
University of Southern Mississippi Graduate Certificate In Business FoundationsHattiesburgMore Info
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