News

The Central Mississippi Planning and Development District (CMPDD), serving as the administrative agent for South Central Mississippi Works (SCMW), has been awarded a $2.5 million PROWD (Pathway Home Reentry Workforce Development) grant by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES). This funding will support innovative workforce reentry programs for incarcerated and justice-involved individuals within the SCMW 17-county service area.

The PROWD initiative is designed to help individuals transition from incarceration to employment by providing career coaching, skills training, job placement, and post-release support. The program will be implemented in phases, beginning with workforce readiness and credentialing services inside FCC Yazoo City, followed by transitional support in Residential Reentry Centers, and continued case management once individuals return to their communities.

CMPDD will manage the grant in partnership with service providers and local employers, with a focus on aligning returning citizens with career pathways in high-demand industries.

“This grant gives us the opportunity to connect returning citizens with real opportunities for meaningful employment,” said Michael Curran, Senior Workforce Coordinator and PROWD Project Manager. “We’re building a reentry system that doesn’t just support second chances — it creates new beginnings.”
The PROWD program reflects SCMW’s commitment to removing employment barriers, reducing recidivism, and strengthening the regional workforce.
For updates and information about future partnership opportunities, please contact Michael Curran at mcurran@cmpdd.org.