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NATCHEZ — The first class of coding students is under way now at the MCA-Miss-Lou Coding Academy, located on the Co-Lin’s Natchez campus, and recruitment is under way for the second class, which begins in July and continues to December 2025.

Officials with the City of Natchez, Natchez Workforce Development, Alcorn State University and Copiah-Lincoln Community College are celebrating the launch of the state’s fifth Coding Academies of Mississippi in Natchez with a ribbon cutting on Feb. 18.

The community is invited to attend and learn more about the coding academy at the ribbon cutting, which will be held at the Co-Lin Multi-Purpose Room, 11 Co-Lin Circle, at 11 a.m.

The coding academy will provide cutting-edge computer science and coding education to the Natchez area workforce, solidifying Natchez’s role as a hub for technological advancement and workforce development.

“We are so excited about being chosen to host Mississippi’s fifth Coding Academy in Natchez. This is a great partnership between our Natchez-Adams County Department of Workforce Development, Alcorn State University, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, and the other four Coding Academies of Mississippi. Very soon, citizens aged 18 and up will have access to free training in a highly lucrative business field — Information Technology. This education will not only be free of charge, but it will also be open to anyone desiring to make a positive step forward in a field that is quickly becoming one of the highest-paying and most rewarding professions in our country. Great things are happening in Natchez!” said Mayor Dan Gibson.

Natchez Workforce Development is actively recruiting students for the academy’s second class, which begins the first week of July 2025 and concludes in December 2025. Aspiring coders from Natchez and surrounding areas are encouraged to apply and take a significant step toward a rewarding career in technology.

Meanwhile, classes for the first group are already under way at Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez campus.

“We are very grateful to Co-Lin for accommodating our coding students while renovations are being completed at Alcorn State University’s Natchez campus, where classes were originally planned to be held. Once renovations are complete, we will transition classes back to Alcorn,” said Lakitsha Rogers, Workforce Development coordinator.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer workforce training in the fastest-growing industry in the United States, information technology coupled with artificial intelligence (AI),” said Tuwanna N. Williams, director of Workforce Development. “As we continue to work diligently to grow and enhance the job readiness skills of our local workforce, we look forward to working with our local employers to place our graduates in meaningful, impactful roles.”

The Miss-Lou Coding Academy represents a transformative investment in the region’s future, creating a pipeline of tech talent ready to meet the needs of businesses and industries locally and beyond. This initiative underscores the collective commitment of Mississippi Coding Academies, the City of Natchez, Natchez Workforce Development, Alcorn State University, and Copiah-Lincoln Community College to empower individuals and strengthen the local economy through technology-driven education and career development.

To register for the Miss-Lou Coding Academy and for more information, visit https://natchezworkforce.com/resources/#certifications.

For more information about Natchez Workforce Development and its programs, please visit https://natchezworkforce.com or email at twilliams@natchez.ms.us