The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA) hosted its annual Aviation Industry Day on August 27, 2025, at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN), welcoming more than 100 participants from across Mississippi’s aviation, business and government sectors. The one-day event showcased how airports fuel economic growth while providing a platform for networking and partnership building.

Organized by JMAA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and led by DBE Manager Veronica Christmas, the conference featured keynote discussions from aviation and economic leaders, as well as breakout sessions on aviation security, drone technology, foreign trade zones and small business resources. Speakers included representatives from TSA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Greater Mississippi Foreign Trade Zone Commission, Jackson State University, MDOT and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“Aviation Industry Day allows us to build meaningful connections while opening doors for local businesses to participate in the growth of Mississippi’s aviation economy,” says Christmas.

JMAA leaders also highlighted upcoming capital projects at JAN and Hawkins Field, emphasizing opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses to play a role in airport development.

By uniting industry experts, entrepreneurs and community leaders, Aviation Industry Day reinforced JMAA’s role as both a gateway for travel and a catalyst for economic opportunity across Mississippi.