Governor Phil Bryant Declares November Innovation Month in Mississippi

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

Office of the Governor

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi recognizes innovation is a powerful engine for economic growth and is committed to promoting the successes and global competitiveness of Mississippi innovators; and

WHEREAS, innovation has the power to transform lives and comes in all shapes, sizes and colors; in small steps and giant leaps; and from rural and urban areas; and

WHEREAS, the driving force behind declaring an Innovation Month in Mississippi is to inspire the innovative spirit in our citizens and attract the next generation of enterprise to the state and to showcase and leverage our unique strengths and creative genius; and

WHEREAS, innovation in Mississippi is evident in its agriculture, economic development, disaster preparedness and recovery, education, energy, entrepreneurship, fine arts, government, health care, information and communications technology, national security, manufacturing, space exploration and tourism; and

WHEREAS, innovative products manufactured in Mississippi move goods and people across the nation, around the world and even into the depths of space, enriching the quality of life at home, work and play; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi’s colleges and universities are pushing the boundaries of science and technology, leading the way in cutting-edge research, challenging students and professionals; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi not only attracts innovative companies from around the globe but also creates, nurtures and retains fast growing companies within the state; and

WHEREAS, innovation in Mississippi is exemplified by events occurring in November 2016, including Innovate Mississippi’s 17th Annual Conference on Technology Innovation, as well as the New Venture Challenge competition and the Kids Code Mississippi contest; and

WHEREAS, a calendar of additional events taking place statewide may be found on the wvww.msinnovationeconomy.com website, which is dedicated to promoting innovation in Mississippi:

NOW THEREFORE I, Phil Bryant, Governor of the State of Mississippi, do hereby proclaim November 2016 as Innovation Month in the state of Mississippi and acknowledge our state has both the opportunity and challenge of leveraging all of its intellectual and human capital in an unprecedented pursuit of innovation. I encourage all stakeholders in Mississippi’s innovation economy to collaborate to showcase our achievements while setting goals to unlock the latent potential in every citizen of the state.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Jackson, on the twenty-fourth day of October in the year of our Lord, two thousand and sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and forty-first.

PHIL BRYANT

GOVERNOR