Jackson approves $50,000 contract with Accelerate Jackson County; council also OKs engineering, demolition and funding measures and accepts LOCC pay increase

The Jackson City Council on Aug. 19 approved a $50,000 annual fee‑for‑service agreement with Accelerate Jackson County to provide economic development services including business retention, property marketing, redevelopment facilitation and strategic planning. The contract passed after council discussion and passed the vote; a council member later stated they were abstaining from the record because of a campaign donation.

The approval drew public comment critical of Accelerate Jackson and its predecessor, Enterprise Group. Public speakers said the organization does not include people of color on its board or staff and described the nonprofit as insufficiently transparent about how public dollars are spent. William Hastings said the professional services contract was “not in the best interest of the city” and highlighted that senior staff are not local. Another speaker who identified with Enterprise Group and Accelerate Jackson said the nonprofit does not open its meetings and asked how public dollars are spent.

Council members and Accelerate Jackson’s chief executive, Keith Gillenwater, said the contract will fund active economic‑development work in the city: business retention and expansion outreach, marketing vacant properties, brownfield work and coordination with state leads from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Gillenwater described recent outreach and site marketing work in the city and county and said the organization has been conducting business retention visits and property outreach.

Beyond the Accelerate Jackson item, council approved several other routine and project measures, all by recorded votes at the meeting. Key actions passed or were otherwise resolved as follows (vote tallies and brief notes are below):

Votes at a glance

- Accelerate Jackson County — $50,000 annual fee‑for‑service agreement for targeted economic development services. Outcome: approved; a council member announced an abstention for the record after the vote, citing a campaign donation. (Agenda item 10c)

- Opioid settlement RFP — Authorize issuance of an RFP for substance use disorder treatment and transitional housing, available funding $275,000. Outcome: approved. (Agenda item 10b)

- Local Officers’ Compensation Commission (LOCC) recommendation — Council considered motions to reject the LOCC’s recommended 3% increase for mayor, treasurer and council members but the motions to reject failed 2‑5, meaning the LOCC recommendation will be implemented per procedure. City attorney briefed council on timing; the LOCC letter date was noted in the file. (Agenda items 10d‑10f)

- Bailey Excavating — Change Order 1 (water treatment plant sanitary sewer replacement): net decrease of $174,928.33 to adjust quantities. Outcome: approved. (Agenda item 10g)

- Spalding deDecker — Professional services contract for water treatment source water study: $499,998. Outcome: approved. (Agenda item 10h)

- Region 2 Planning Commission — Local funding resolution and payment $28,540 for the Jackson Area comprehensive transportation study (FY2025 unified work program). Outcome: approved. (Agenda item 10i)

- Building demolition fund — Budget amendment reallocating $300,000 from general fund to the building demolition fund. Outcome: approved. (Agenda item 10j)

- Hubbell, Roth & Clark — Amendment 1 to major street engineering contract (not to exceed $66,660). Outcome: approved. (Agenda item 10k)

Council members described the Accelerate Jackson agreement as “real work” and a means to rebuild relationships with employers and bring site‑ready properties to market. Supporters emphasized collaboration with the city’s community development staff and Brownfield Authority. Opponents in public comment pressed the city to require transparency and pointed to a lack of board diversity.

The meeting also included public comment on other topics, including curbside recycling benchmarks and deadlines under state material management guidance and a range of community notices and condolences for a family tragedy that several speakers, including the mayor, addressed.

The council took a three‑minute recess before receiving closing comments and adjourning.