It's no secret, times are tough in Mississippi. Unemployment is up, tax revenue is down and education isn't up to par.

The Mississippi Economic Council has been hosting meetings across Mississippi this week to discuss solutions to those problems.

Dozens of business leaders and officials met in Jackson Wednesday before traveling to Brookhaven.

Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant called for consolidation of state agencies and accountability.
The most recurring theme at the Jackson meeting, however, was education.

Hank Bounds, commissioner of Mississippi's college system, said properly trained students make for good employees and consumers with buying power to help the economy.