Jamie Holder: Small Towns, Population Shifts, and School Choice

Bay Springs, Mississippi is like a lot of communities around the state, it has desirable schools and less desirable schools, but no meaningful avenue for parents to exercise school choice. According to Jamie Holder, President and CEO of Hol-Mac Corporation, that employs over 900 people mostly in Bay Springs, this reality has led to population decline within the city and made recruiting talent by the business community increasingly difficult. Jamie reached out to Empower and asked us to participate in a community forum with legislators, city officials, school leaders, and engaged citizens about the benefits of school choice for this community. Jamie is convinced that school choice is the most important reform the legislature could pass for the city of Bay Springs, local schools, employers, families, and most importantly, the children of this community. Before the forum, host Grant Callen and Jamie spent some time behind the microphones talking about the potential impact of choice on small towns across the state. Tune in for a fresh and fascinating conversation with one of Mississippi’s largest employers!