JACKSON, Miss – The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office was recently awarded the prestigious International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA) Merit Award for the newly established Welcome to Business (WTB) Webinar Program.

The IACA Merit Awards are given each year to jurisdictions who have successfully implemented an innovative change in their home jurisdictions. A select panel of experts carefully reviews and scores each submission in the areas of Effectiveness, Originality, Significance and Transferability, and Lessons Learned.

“Our office is dedicated to facilitating collaboration in Mississippi’s business development ecosystem to ensure businesses are connected to the resources needed to be successful. Through meaningful initiatives like the Welcome to Business Webinar Program, Mississippi continues to lead the way and shine on the national stage," said Secretary Michael Watson.

The WTB webinar series is designed to facilitate early connection of new businesses to state resources through partnership and collaboration. WTB webinars are hosted virtually twice a month to give new business formations a tour of the resources on the Secretary of State’s website including Y'all Business and Mississippi Boss. New business formations are also introduced to the resources available for small businesses at the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) and the Mississippi Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). Both agencies have seen an increase in customers served as a result of the webinars.

This is the first time Mississippi has received this recognition.

For more information on the services the Secretary of State’s Office provides to businesses, click here.