Jackson reveals early comprehensive plan for city
By Evan Carden SA Editor

Jackson's ACE committee met Monday at the Boise Training Center to go over its early comprehensive plan for the community. The meeting was conducted by Larry Watts, director of community planning for the firm of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. of Birmingham. (SA photo by Chris Sherman)

During a meeting at the Boise Training Center, Monday, June 18, members of Jackson's ACE (Alabama Communities of Excellence) committee revealed its early comprehensive plan for economic development and growth.

The process has been ongoing for nearly a year after Jackson was chosen to participate in the community improvement program, which currently includes 18 other towns and cities across the state. ACE brings together a diverse group of community leaders from government, education, religious and business to develop an economic plan for the city.

During Monday's meeting, discussion included the identification of the city's assets, challenges, critical issues and early action items. The city's theme or vision is stated as, "Jackson, Alabama, the city that's got it all!" The mission is stated as, "The city of Jackson, a culturally and economically vibrant community, will offer a caring, family-oriented environment while fostering continued growth, prosperity and a great quality of life for all its citizens.

The committee listed a total of 29 assets the community already possesses. Some of those listed were its location to other major metro areas, cohesive leadership, good partnership with education, a good supply of natural resources, mainly forestry, quality public schools, abundant recreation opportunities, a strong industrial base, railroad accessibility, a trainable workforce and a quality transportation infrastructure.

Among the 36 challenges identified by the city were the need to develop a better trained sales and business personnel workforce, obtain citizens' input on the future, a decline in volunteerism within the community, downtown business owners not spending enough money to make buildings more appealing, limited entertainment opportunities, limited grocery store choices, limited modern equipment at the local medical facility, the battle against illegal drugs, litter, limited employment opportunities, apathy/resistance to change, the loss of population, dilapidated structures and dependancy on the forest industry.

The group provided a 20-year vision for Jackson, which includes:

*Developing property along U.S. Highway 43 and the Tombigbee River to increase the city's tax base;

*Developing a regional economic relationship with other communities;

*The development of new residential areas;

*Economic and community development, mainly to bring more jobs to the area;

*The building of a marina along the waterfront to include hotels, restaurants, stores, parks and new businesses;

*A plan to benefit from the new ThyssenKrupp steel plant by enticing spin-off industries to locate to the area;

*Enticing spin-offs from the EADs project in Mobile;

*One united school.

Anumber of early action priorities with timelines were set. They include:

*In the area of services, establishing a committee to assess the future needs for housing development, health care and services; meeting with city and county officials as well as developers to explore opportunities in the trade area for improving and expanding available housing and health care; supporting the local hospital with strategic planning and identifying ways to assist; establishing a committee to investigate the feasibility of a housing authority.

*Under economic development, developing a comprehensive city master plan; partnering with economic developers to identify funding opportunities, develop a partnership with Workforce Development; appointing an economic development committee to determine the cost of hiring a planning/ engineering firm to complete the city master plan; setting up a meeting to involve the mayor, economic development committee and all economic developers in Clarke County to present the city's plan; and arranging to meet with Alice Schaum of the office of Workforce Development to discuss workforce training.

*For education the plan includes continuing to meet with representatives from preschool, elementary school and parents to improve Pre- K test results; assessing current funding with city government and educators; broadening adult education services to include job training, computer classes, seminars and community involvement; continued work with the HIPPY program, which is a joint educatorparent teaching program that begins at home.

*To improve infrastructure the committee suggested securing funding for a comprehensive plan; assisting Clarke County with the county-wide wireless program to secure funding for a feasibility study and public awareness; arranging a meeting with the infrastructure team, the mayor and city council to develop a plan and timeline a comprehensive plan.

*Under leadership the goals set include identifying grant opportunities and scholarships for leadership programs; identifying and recruiting new leaders in the community for programs; continuing partnership with existing leadership organizations; forming a committee of industrial leaders to recruit broader participation in leadership classes; identifying funding opportunities; developing a youth services guide; establishment of a regular meeting schedule for existing leadership organization; evaluation of the possibility of an incentive program for volunteers.

The ACE program is a comprehensive three-phase approach to economic and community development for cities with populations between 2,000 and 12,000. With the mission of helping Alabama's smaller communities to plan, grow and prosper, ACE partners from the private sector, governmental agencies, and universities work with each community to successfully achieve the vision and goals created during the ACE program. For more information visit the ACE Web site: http://www.alaba-

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