Economic Development Specialist I

Mississippi Corp; Jackson, Northern (MS, KY); Hybrid; USD 44,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is seeking a full-time professional to administer state-supported grant, loan, and bond programs from the Jackson office. You will coordinate servicing activities, market financing services, and ensure compliance with statutes, rules, and policies.

Strong communication and Excel skills are essential. Ideal candidates hold a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, public administration, public policy, banking, or related field and can handle confidential

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, public administration, public policy, banking, or related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word required.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, time management, and discretion in handling sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Administer state-supported grant, loan, and bond programs.
• Coordinate servicing activities related to financing programs.

Skills

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Communication

Time management

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, public administration, public policy, banking, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Full-Time

Job Number

9319-0411-20261007Hs

0411 - MDA-MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Opening Date

10/09/2026

10/23/2026 11:59 PM Central

Agency Minimum Salary

$43,509.31

$52,211.17

About the Agency

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is the state's lead economic and community development agency. MDA recruits new companies to Mississippi, helps existing companies expand and provides support to foster growth and new opportunities in a variety of areas, including energy, small and minority business, trade, film, retiree recruitment and more. Additionally, MDA attracts millions of visitors to the state each year through Visit Mississippi, the tourism division of the agency. MDA also supports pass-through funding and provides support for a variety of grant programs and non-profits, such as Innovate Mississippi and Mississippi Main Street Association.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Administer state-supported grant, loan, and bond programs
• Coordinate all servicing activities related to financing programs.
• Help market financing services provided through state-supported programs.
• Understand and apply state statutes, rules, regulations, and policies.
• Provide technical assistance to businesses, cities, counties, non-profits and other entities applying for funding through Business Incentive programs.
• Respond and disseminate program information as requested to businesses, local economic development organizations, and local units of government.
• Aid in the incentive application process.
• Provide information regarding program policies and procedures.
• Develop and maintain an integral knowledge of state incentive programs (i.e. discretionary grant programs and statutory tax incentive programs) and various other assistance programs offered by state and federal government.
• Perform basic accounting functions in regard to requests for cash processing and the workflow process associated with program administration.
• Assist with other duties and projects as assigned

What you'll need to be Successful

• To be successful a candidate must possess and maintain a valid Mississippi driver’s license, have excellent communication and interpersonal skills in a professional and friendly manner, be proficient in Microsoft Office suite, possess a strong work ethic and high degree of initiative, proven ability to make independent decisions, demonstrate strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines, ability to exercise a high degree of confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion, and ability to be flexible and adapt to changes in priorities and demands.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.
• Possess knowledge of public administration (budgeting, administrative law, and state bid laws) as well as public relations and negotiation skills to facilitate frequent interaction with business executives and others.

Preferred Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 0-2 years of experience.Hiring agency preferred qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, public administration, public policy, banking, or related field.

Address 210 East Capitol Street
Suite 800
Jackson, Mississippi, 39201