At first sight, Jason Goree looks as if he is all about business. As he flops in his brown executive chair, a picture of his wife, Khylah, and 3-year-old son Isaiah rattles on his desk. Goree, a real estate and business developer for 3G Management and Development Group, is involved in several projects to improve the city of Jackson.
The 30-year-old is a graduate of Jim Hill High School and Mississippi State University. Goree didn't start off as a developer, but earned a bachelor's degree from MSU in computer engineering in 2002.
In Dallas, where Goree lived for seven years, he was the franchise owner of two Farmer's Insurance Agencies, and managed residential real estate properties. He moved back to Jackson in October 2009 to help the community.
"I learned a lot, and I wanted to help build and facilitate that in Jackson," he says.
Goree says his plan will include developing and leasing of buildings across from the King Edward on Capitol Street. Over the next few months, citizens can expect to see a men's boutique, general office space, a deli and more.
Goree believes in the development of those around him as well. "You don't want to develop real estate and property and then push the people out of the way," he says. "The logic is to make sure that everyone can come up together."
As chairman of the West Jackson Development Group, Goree is working with board members and Jackson residents to form a master plan, collaborating with non-profits and neighborhood projects in West Jackson.
"I didn't move back here from Dallas to twiddle my thumbs," Goree says.
He is also working with local organizations to build permanent housing for the homeless, which will have a mixture of houses and apartment complexes, job training assistance with medical needs, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Goree says it's too early to have specific details but hopes to have the plan implemented by the end of the year.
"We can't move forward and leave them (the homeless) behind," he says.
In addition to being a businessman, Goree is an ordained minister at the Amazing Church of God and Christ.
"I want to continue to rally the troops and bring in people so that we can work together, execute our plan and go gather the rest of the people to say: Yes, we can do this," he says.
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