Jackson Downtown Development Corporation reports $7.5 million in downtown investment, 21 new businesses and 42 housing units in progress

Beth Ann Simpson, director of the Jackson Downtown Development Corporation, presented the organization’s 2024 highlights to the Jackson City Council and outlined projects and funding the organization expects to advance in the current fiscal year.

Simpson told the council that downtown saw 21 new businesses open in 2024, which the JDDC estimates resulted in more than 56 new jobs. She said 28 building rehabilitation projects were completed and one new construction on Johnson Street is under way that will produce about 42 new housing units.

“Downtown is also grateful for the recent investment from the city and our Jackson home, to install public art this year and the next year in the Arts District,” Simpson said. She reported total public and private investment downtown of more than $7,500,000 for 2024.

Simpson described funding sources for JDDC operations and programs: a two-year contribution from the city totaling $60,000 over the period, $10,000 from the Chamber of Commerce, business sponsorships, and a ‘‘friends of downtown’’ campaign that contributes roughly $5,000. She said the organization largely functions as a pass-through for grant funds that are then directed to building improvements and program support.

Simpson highlighted a $300,000 award from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (Tennessee ECD) plus local matching funds through the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and property owners that will leverage roughly $400,000 to support improvement grants for more than 15 buildings downtown. The funds will be used for façade and building rehabs and ancillary improvements such as dumpster enclosures and wayfinding signage; Simpson said work is expected to begin in the current fiscal year and will take multiple years to complete.

She also noted programming figures: the downtown office supported more than 300 events in 2024, promotional efforts and seasonal programs attracted about 5,000 participants, and an incubator space has helped 7 of 12 recent tenants scale up into larger downtown spaces. Simpson said JDDC’s programming includes roundtables, promotional campaigns and smaller grant awards that aim to support business development.

When asked for further financial detail, Simpson offered to provide council members with a budget and financial report showing a fuller revenue breakdown and reported returns such as sales-tax generation and property-value effects would be brought back at a future meeting.

Simpson closed by saying JDDC will continue to advocate for downtown businesses, manage programs that support foot traffic, and follow up with council on detailed financial figures requested by members.