Jackson: Economy

Major Industries and Commercial Activity

Known as the "Best of the New South," Jackson is a major business force in Mississippi. Its diversity of business and industry and its position as the state capital help insulate the metropolitan area from the economic downturns experienced by other cities. Jackson's success in drawing high-paying industrial operations is attributed to the city's combination of an attractive labor pool and a good quality of life.

The Jackson metropolitan area is home to 16 banks, 4 of which are headquartered in the city of Jackson: Consumer National Bank, First American Bank, First Commercial Bank, and Trustmark National Bank. Agriculture commodities represent a $180 million business in the tri-county area. Cattle is the primary commodity in Hinds County, though other commodities important to the region are cotton, grains, poultry, and timber. Government jobs, ranging from municipal to federal, employ approximately 40,000 residents of metropolitan Jackson. Manufacturing remains an important economic sector, with nearly 500 manufacturers present in the area. Construction, distribution and trade, health care, retail, telecommunications, and travel and tourism are also vital to the local economy.

One of the most promising sectors for Jackson is the automobile industry. For years, city officials had worked to lure automotive manufacturers to the area by highlighting its assets, namely the availability of large parcels of land, a well-developed energy and utility infrastructure, and low industrial expenses. Nissan Motor Co. responded to their efforts, and in 2003 produced the first truck in Jackson's new, $930 million automobile plant. This investment by Nissan helped offset the downturn the Jackson area had incurred with the bankruptcy of WorldCom Inc., whose headquarters were in nearby Clinton, Mississippi, as well as the losses it faced in 2004 when Tyson Foods Inc. announced the closing of its Jackson processing plant, which cut about 900 jobs.

Items and goods produced: automobiles and related automotive components, fabricated metals, electrical and electronic equipment, food products, apparel, wood products, furniture, transportation equipment, rubber and plastic products, portable electric tools, welded steel tubing, aircraft parts

Incentive Programs—New and Existing Companies

Local programs

MetroJackson Economic Development Alliance (MEDA), an alliance consisting of the City of Jackson, Entergy Mississippi Inc., Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce, and Hinds and Rankin county economic development organizations, markets and promotes the metropolitan Jackson area and encourages economic development through the expansions of existing businesses and industries and locations. Incentives for new businesses locating in the metropolitan Jackson area include low taxes, high quality labor, training programs, and tax credits for companies who create new jobs and provide basic skills for training and/or childcare. The City of Jackson Storefront Improvement Program offers grants for exterior structural improvements to businesses located in designated areas of the city.

State programs

The Advantage Mississippi Program was created by lawmakers in 2000 to attract businesses by improving the state's infrastructure and upgrading incentive packages. The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), through the Financial Resources Division, administers a variety of incentive programs to assist businesses in development and expansion. For large projects, a primary financial incentive is the Major Economic Impact Authority, which allows the state to issue general obligation bonds to secure up to $300 million for development. Other financial incentive programs administered by the MDA are the Rural Economic Development Assistance Program, Industrial Development Revenue Bond Program, Agribusiness Enterprise Loan, Business Investment Act Program, Energy Investment Program, Guaranty Loan Program, Minority Business Enterprise Loan, Minority Surety Bond Guaranty Program, Small Business Assistance Program, and Small Enterprise Development Finance Program. Additionally, in an effort to attract national and regional headquarters to Mississippi, the state offers income tax credits for each new job created and sales tax exemptions on construction materials and equipment used to build the new facility. A tax credit program is offered through the Mississippi Department of Archives & History for the restoration of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places or designated as Mississippi Landmarks.

Job training programs

The state of Mississippi provides custom-designed pre-employment training, post-employment training, and upgrade/retraining services for new, expanding, or existing industries. The Employment Training Division of the Mississippi Development Authority administers the Workforce Investment Network (WIN). This network, the state's response to the federal Workforce Investment Act, combines federal, state, and community workforce resources to provide employment and training services to Mississippi employers and job seekers. WIN Job Centers, located throughout the state, provide access to employment, education, training, and economic development services. Other WIN services for employers include a database of qualified job candidates, assistance in writing job descriptions, proficiency testing, labor market data, and information on work opportunity tax credits. The Mississippi Contract Procurement Center provides information about bid opportunities from federal, state, and local government agencies; it also offers training, marketing assistance, technical support, and counseling. The Workforce Development Center of Hinds Community College provides industry-specific training, as well as additional educational courses and career exploration services.

Development Projects

By far, the largest development project of the early 2000s was the new Nissan Motor Co. truck plant. The $930 million facility created 3,300 new jobs and has the capacity of producing 250,000 vehicles each year, the first of which rolled off the line in the spring of 2003. This factory, in turn, attracted suppliers and other support services to the area. In 2003 just over 100 new facilities were announced in the metropolitan Jackson area, with a total capital investment of $435.6 million and the creation of 2,065 jobs. The city is actively pursuing the restoration of Farish Street, a formerly vibrant business district, into an entertainment center. The historic King Edward Hotel, vacant since 1967, has been entertaining bids from potential redevelopers who are considering turning it into apartments and office space.

The new TelCom Center and the Capital City Convention Center were under construction and in the final planning stages, respectively, in early 2005. The Capital City Convention Center will sit adjacent to, and connect with, the new Mississippi TelCom Center, a 74,000 square foot conference center that is scheduled to open in 2005. Together, the two centers will act as a complex offering a variety of options for meetings and events. The Capital City Convention Center, with more than 240,000 square feet, is expected to be completed by 2009 at an estimated total cost of $61 million.

Economic Development Information: Hinds County Economic Development District, 909 N. President St., PO Box 248, Jackson, MS 39205; telephone (601)353-6056; email exedir@hcedd.com. MetroJackson Economic Development Alliance, PO Box 3318, Jackson, MS 39207-3318; toll-free 800-566-5267; fax (601)352-5539; email info@metrojacksoneda.com.

Commercial Shipping

Equidistant from Memphis to the North, New Orleans to the south, Atlanta to the east, and Dallas to the west, Jackson is advantageously positioned to serve the South's distribution needs. A transportation network of major carriers, regional airlines, major trucking lines, and rail lines operated by the Canadian National Railway and the Kansas City Southern Railway Co. assures Jackson's position as a vital provider of the nation's freight service. The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority operates Jackson-Evers International Airport (JIA) and Hawkins Field, both of which handle considerable freight activity. JIA is the site of Foreign Trade Zone #158, where foreign goods bound for international destinations can be temporarily stored without incurring an import duty, as well as the Mississippi Air Cargo Logistics Center. The nearest full-service port is the Port of Vicksburg, located on the Mississippi River 45 miles west of Jackson.

Labor Force and Employment Outlook

Industrial leaders credit the metropolitan Jackson work force with a demonstrated willingness to adapt to rapidly changing technologies. High profit margins result from hourly manufacturing wages that are lower than the national average. Office space is inexpensive and abundant, and business operating expenses in Jackson are among the lowest in the nation.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Jackson metropolitan area labor force, 2003 annual averages.

Size of nonagricultural labor force: 232.6

Number of workers employed in . . .

natural resources and mining: 700

construction: 11,400

manufacturing: 17,900

trade, transportation and utilities: 48,500

information: 5,700

financial activities: 15,900

professional and business services: 25,800

educational and health services: 28,300

leisure and hospitality: 19,600

other services: 8,600

government: 50,300

Average hourly earnings of production workers employed in manufacturing: $14.07

Unemployment rate: 4.2% (December 2004)

Cost of Living

According to the December 2003 issue of SmartMoney magazine, Jackson was the nation's most underpriced housing market, with an undervalue of approximately 10 percent.

The following is a summary of data regarding several key cost of living factors for the Jackson area.

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Average House Price: $215,368

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Cost of Living Index: 92.8 (U.S. average = 100.0)

State income tax rate: Ranges from 3.0% to 5.0%

State sales tax rate: 7.0%

Local income tax rate: None

Local sales tax rate: 1% on hotels and restaurants

Property tax rate: 169.14 mills

Economic Information: MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 22548, Jackson, MS 39225-2548; telephone (601)948-7575; fax (601)352-5539; email contact@metrochamber.com

Jackson: Recreation

Sightseeing

As the capital of the Magnolia State, Jackson offers visitors several buildings of historical interest. The New Capitol, built in 1903 in the Beaux Arts style of architecture and patterned after the nation's capitol in Washington, is the working seat of Mississippi's government. The restored Old Capitol, which was built in 1833 and served as the government seat for 70 years, is the home of the State Historical Museum. The Governor's Mansion was headquarters for Union Generals Grant and Sherman during the Civil War and has been home to 35 governors since 1842; it is one of only two executive residences designated a National Historic Landmark. City Hall is one of the few buildings left standing after Union troops set fire to the city. At the Gothic Revival Manship House, the 1857 home of Jackson's Civil War-era mayor, the daily life of a nineteenth-century Mississippi family is recreated.

On 100 acres in the heart of the city, the Jackson Zoological Park houses more than 300 birds, reptiles, and mammals representing 130 species from all over the world, as well as a children's petting zoo. At Mynelle Gardens, also known as Jackson's Botanical Gardens, more than a thousand varieties of plants are tended among several distinct gardens situated on seven acres. Battlefield Park is a memorial to Civil War battles fought there, with areas available for tennis and baseball. About 10 miles north of Jackson is the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, where a series of Indian paths became a post road. Mississippi Crafts Center, a showcase for folk arts, and pleasant picnic areas are located along the historic drive.

Arts and Culture

With pride in their southern hospitality and culture, Jacksonians have created facilities and assured an atmosphere where the arts flourish. Mississippi Arts Center includes Thalia Mara Hall, home of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and the Mississippi Museum of Art, with its vast permanent collections, regular monthly exhibits, and visiting shows. Next door, the Russell C. Davis Planetarium offers a variety of public shows and educational programs, including Sky Shows and Laser Light Concerts, designed to give students of all ages a better understanding of the universe and space exploration. In one of the largest theaters in the country, Cinema-360 completely surrounds the viewer.

The performing arts offer variety to Jackson residents and visitors. New Stage Theatre and the Community Children's Theatre stage live dramatic performances, as do local colleges and national touring companies. Ballet is hugely popular in Jackson. It is presented locally by Ballet Mississippi, which is affiliated with the Ballet Mississippi Youth Ballet and the Ballet Mississippi School. Every four years Jackson is proud to host the two-week USA International Ballet Competition. The Mississippi Opera, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Academy of Ancient Music, Jackson Choral Society, and Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra Society offer a full calendar of live music to the region's audiences. Jackson-area nightspots feature music for every taste, including reggae, blues, Dixieland, country, jazz, and rock.

The region's museums provide a wide range of arts and artifacts for viewing. The Mississippi Museum of Art is the oldest and largest professional arts organization in the state, and holds a collection of more than 3,000 works. Old Capitol Museum, formerly the seat of state government, now exhibits Mississippi's state historical collections. Wildlife specimens, aquariums, and ecological exhibits are on display at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. The Municipal Art Gallery displays month-long exhibitions of works that are available for sale.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, spanning 40 acres, depicts the stories of men and women who made their living as farmers and woodsmen. African American culture and African American Mississippi history are featured in the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center. The International Museum of Muslim Cultures is devoted to contributions Muslims have made to the city of Jackson, the state, the nation, and the world. Other Jackson museums of note are the Oaks House Museum, which is the oldest house in the city; the Manship House Museum, a rare example of Gothic Revival architecture in Mississippi; and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, which features interactive exhibits and more than 500 televised interviews with famous Mississippi athletes.

Festivals and Holidays

Jackson hosts the nation's second largest parade in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This two-week celebration in January also features gospel music, a talent show, and live entertainment. Right on its heels is the Dixie National Livestock Show, Parade, and Rodeo; held over three weeks at the Mississippi Fairgrounds, the event also includes a three-day Western Festival, a rodeo dance, and two trade shows. March brings Mal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival, featuring the local favorite and world-famous Sweet Potato Queens. Spring ushers in the Crossroads Film Festival, McB's Crawfish Festival, the Returning Powwow & Frontier Rodeo, and the Mississippi Cultural Festival, which celebrates the diversity of cultures in the state.

Jubilee! JAM, held in downtown Jackson each June, is a celebration of music, arts and crafts, and food. Several events celebrate our nation's independence each July, such as the Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum. September is the month for several cultural festivals, including Celtic Fest, the Farish Street Heritage Festival, and Festival Latino. Each October brings the huge Mississippi State Fair, a 12-day event that attracts nearly 550,000 visitors. Trustmark's Red Beans & Rice Celebration, featuring Southern-style food, music, and activities, is also held in the autumn, as are the Halloween Carnival and the Harvest Festival. Numerous musical and theatrical performances, a parade, and tours of architecturally significant buildings contribute to festive Christmas and Kwanzaa seasons.

Sports for the Spectator

Mississippi's only professional baseball team is the Jackson Senators, who play at Smith-Wills Stadium from May through August. College football is a local favorite; thousands of spectators turn out for the annual Capital City Classic between the Jackson State University Tigers and the Alcorn State University Braves, along with other contests, pageants, and events at Memorial Stadium. The National Cutting Horse Association event is held each March at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, with competition from amateur and professional riders. The Tour LeFleur Bike Race, a regional cycling event with multiple races throughout downtown Jackson, takes place the following month. The Southern Farm Bureau Golf Classic, Mississippi's only regular PGA tour event, is held over a week in late September.

Sports for the Participant

Taking advantage of its warm climate, many of Jackson's sports facilities emphasize outdoor life. With 54 lovely parks in the city park system, residents and visitors can enjoy facilities ranging from playground to primitive camping. Public and private golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, jogging and biking routes, nature trails, swimming pools, bowling and roller skating facilities, a go-cart track, and a model airplane field are all available in the area. Sports leagues suited to children include T-ball, baseball, football, and soccer.

An outdoor asset to Jackson, only 10 miles northeast of the city center, is the 33,000-acre Ross Barnett Reservoir, where water sports—boating, sailing, water skiing, swimming, and fishing—abound, with additional areas designated for camping and picnicking. LeFleur's Bluff State Park offers camping, fishing, picnic spots, hiking trails, and a 9-hole golf course situated on 305 acres.

Shopping and Dining

The central business district offers a variety of stores for shopping pleasure. Three major shopping malls are located in the city of Jackson. One of the largest is MetroCenter Mall, which houses more than 120 specialty stores in addition to its anchors of Dillard's, McRae's, and Sears. Numerous specialty shopping centers located outside of the major malls offer unique merchandise. Among these are the Chimneyville Crafts Gallery, specializing in crafts made by local artists, and two local outlets featuring the work of members of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi. More than 40 antique dealers operate in the Jackson area.

Dining opportunities in Jackson's 400 restaurants can suit every taste, from fast food or southern style cuisine, such as southern fried chicken, biscuits, and pecan pie, to fresh Gulf Coast seafood, including shrimp, oysters, and crab. International establishments in the Jackson area feature French, Continental, Greek, Oriental, and Mexican menus.

Visitor Information: Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau, 921 N. President St., Jackson, MS 39202; telephone (601)960-1891; toll-free 800-354-7695; fax (601)960-1827; email info@visitjackson.com

Jackson: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Public education in Jackson is provided by Jackson Public Schools, the largest school district in Mississippi. Jackson is notable for being the city where Parents for Public Schools was founded in 1989. The group began a national movement to make public schools truly integrated.

The following is a summary of data regarding Jackson public schools as of the 2003–2004 school year.

Total enrollment: 31,580

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 38

junior high/middle schools: 10

senior high schools: 8

other: 1 alternative learning center, 1 career development center, 1 academic advancement center, 1 academy of academics and performing arts

Student/teacher ratio: 15:1

Teacher salaries

average: $36,030

Funding per pupil: $7,429.73

Public facilities are supplemented by several private and parochial schools that serve the area.

Public Schools Information: Jackson Public Schools, PO Box 2338, Jackson, MS 39225-2338; telephone (601)960-8700

Colleges and Universities

Jackson State University is a public institution that has a total of 7,785 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. The University of Mississippi Medical Center has schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing, and health-related professions, and a graduate school of medical sciences. Hinds Community College, a two-year public institution enrolling 9,798 students, has a campus in Jackson. Belhaven College, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, awards bachelor's, master's, and associate's degrees. Millsaps College, a private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church, awards bachelor's and master's degrees. Antonelli College is a private, two-year college based in Ohio with a campus in Jackson. Other Jackson-area colleges include Tougaloo College and the Mississippi College School of Law.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Jackson-Hinds Library System supports 15 branches, 8 of which are located in the city of Jackson. Its collection numbers more than 535,000 books, videos, audio cassettes, compact discs, and multimedia kits, in addition to periodicals, microfiche, magazine and newspapers on microfilm, and CD-ROMs. The main library, the Eudora Welty Library, houses a special collection on Mississippi writers and serves as the Hinds County Bar Association's public law library.

Jackson State University maintains a large library holding 400,000 book titles, government documents, and a special Black Studies collection. The University's Center for Business Development and Economic Research conducts small business research. The Institute for Technology Development, a public/private interdisciplinary research corporation located at the Stennis Space Center, also contributes to the development of the area's business economy. The University of Mississippi Medical Center is a leader in innovative medical research.

Public Library Information: Jackson-Hinds Library System, c/o Eudora Welty Library, 300 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39201; telephone (601)968-5811; fax (601)968-5817; email cmccallum@jhlibrary.com

Jackson: History

City Named for "Old Hickory"

The earliest inhabitants of the Jackson area were of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Native American tribes. During the late eighteenth century, a French-Canadian named Louis LeFleur began operating a trading post on a high bluff along the west bank of the Pearl River. The subsequent settlement became known as LeFleur's Bluff. In October 1821 when the Choctaws ceded their land to the federal government as part of the Treaty of Doak's Stand, LeFleur's Bluff was recommended as the most suitable location for a seat of government. A November 1821 act of the U.S. Congress established Mississippi's state government at this site, renamed Jackson in honor of General Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson. The city's development cannot be separated from its role as Mississippi's capital.

In little more than a year, a two-story brick statehouse was ready for the historic opening session of the Mississippi state legislature in December 1822. A second capitol, now known as the "Old Capitol," opened in 1840; that edifice, now a historical museum, was in turn replaced. Based on the design of the nation's capitol in Washington, Jackson's architecturally splendid New Capitol has, since its dedication in 1903, been the focus of Mississippi's government activities.

Jackson Rebuilds After Fires

The cotton industry had made Jackson the capital of a wealthy state, but during the Civil War, when Union forces occupied Jackson under the command of General George Sherman, the city suffered three major fires. Because brick chimneys were the most visible structures left standing, Jackson earned the nickname "Chimneyville." The City Hall was spared from burning, probably because it was used as a hospital. Jackson residents had to begin slowly rebuilding after 1865. Railroads radiating out from the city contributed to the growth of transportation and trade in Jackson.

While Jackson's population was less than 8,000 people at the close of the century, by 1905 it had nearly doubled. Natural gas fields near the city were opened in the 1930s, providing inexpensive fuel for factories. Abundant energy coupled with existing transportation systems began to attract industries to the Jackson area. Since the 1960s an active program for economic development has stimulated building of many kinds, spurred industrial expansion, and attracted new residents to Jackson.

Jackson's lingering reputation as a racially divided city changed in 1997, when Harvey Johnson was elected the city's first African American mayor. He won 70 percent of the vote with a campaign that transcended race. Continuing to reinvent itself as a diverse and progressive city, Jackson made a major foray into the automobile industry by enticing Nissan Motor Co. to construct a $930 million automotive plant in 2003.

Historical Information: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 200 North St., PO Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205-0571; telephone (601)576-6850; email pubinfo@mdah.state.ms.us

Jackson: Communications

Newspapers and Magazines

The Clarion-Ledger publishes an evening paper seven days a week. Weekly newspapers include the Jackson Advocate, Mississippi's oldest African American newspaper; Mississippi Business Journal, Mississippi's only statewide business publication; and Northside Sun, serving 9,500 paid subscribers. The New Southern View is a quarterly magazine featuring articles, local information, and a community calendar for residents of the Greater Jackson metropolitan area. Several other publications available in Jackson feature regional, religious, professional, and educational material.

Television and Radio

Jackson has 13 television stations, with additional coverage available through cable television service and stations based in surrounding communities. Eleven AM and 18 FM radio stations broadcast from Jackson.

Media Information: The Clarion-Ledger, 201 S. Congress St., Jackson, MS 39201; telephone (601)961-7000

Jackson Online

City of Jackson Home Page. Available www.city.jackson.ms.us

The Clarion-Ledger. Available www.clarionledger.com

Hinds County Economic Development District. Available www.hcedd.com

Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau. Available www.visitjackson.com

Jackson-Hinds Library System. Available www.jhlibrary.com

Jackson Public Schools. Available www.jackson.k12.ms.us

MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce. Available www.metrochamber.com

MetroJackson Economic Development Alliance. Available www.metroeda.com

Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Available www.mdah.state.ms.us

Selected Bibliography

Brown, Jennie, Medgar Evers (Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1994)

Brown, Rosellen, Civil Wars (New York: Knopf, 1984)

Kimbrough, Julie L., Jackson, MS: Images of America Series (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 1998)

Patterson, James, ed., and Judy H. Tucker, Wyatt Waters: Another Coat of Paint: An Artist's View of Jackson, Mississippi (Brandon, Miss.: Quail Ridge Press, 1997)