Gov. Ronnie Musgrove believes you can’t talk about economic development without including education.

And his newly proposed plan for Mississippi’s growth makes provisions for both universities and community colleges — an inclusion that pleases local higher education officials.

&uot;I think it’s a good idea,&uot; said Alcorn State University President Dr. Clinton Bristow, who complimented the governor on developing the plan and including colleges and universities as a major component.

Dr. Ronald E. Nettles, dean of Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez campus, said education and industry go hand-in-hand.

&uot;In dealing with different companies, the No. 1 thing they talk about is education,&uot; Nettles said. &uot;Community colleges have recognized that for a long time.&uot;

Musgrove’s plan, for which he has called an Aug. 28 special session, includes:

— Targeted job training by the state’s economic development authority will flow through the community and junior colleges system.

— Department of Human Services, economic development and community college officials will meet to coordinate efforts and federal funds for job training.

–Take a &uot;cluster approach&uot; to leveraging the strength of the state’s universities.

&uot;Mississippi has not utilized university research in clusters,&uot; Musgrove said last week, citing a Harvard study that advises using &uot;clusters&uot; to focus certain areas of the state on such things as timber, agriculture or technology, based on the research strengths of the university closest to that area.

Bristow said Alcorn is already buying into the cluster approach to economic development. &uot;On the university level we desire to be involved&uot; in the state’s economic growth, Bristow said.

&uot;What we’ve been trying to do is look at southwest Mississippi as a region so we develop an identity comparable to the gulf coast,&uot; he said.

Alcorn’s Lorman campus has a strong emphasis on agribusiness, while the Natchez campus has a nursing school and MBA&160;program.

&uot;We have a number of specialized areas&uot; to focus on,&uot; Bristow said.

But Bristow said he believes leaders from southwest Mississippi should meet to determine what the area’s focus should be rather than letting just the university decide.

Nettles said he is also interested in the efforts to pool resources for job training. Each community college now has a workforce development center supported by state funds, he said.

And Nettles said he hopes Musgrove’s emphasis on technology will benefit Co-Lin, which does not yet have funding for a technology center.

&uot;Southwest Mississippi doesn’t have a facility like that,&uot; Nettles said. &uot;And any industry that is attracted to more skilled workers is going to pay a higher wage.&uot;