Jackson Free Press

Hope Enterprise Corp., a community-development organization that finances affordable housing projects in the South, received additional support this morning when it announced its membership with national community-development network NeighborWorks.

The NeighborWorks network has provided more than $20 billion to affordable housing developments in the U.S. over the last five years. Hope and NeighborWorks partnered on affordable housing projects after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast in 2005.

This morning, representatives from Hope, NeighborWorks, the Jackson Housing Authority and Midtown Partners announced that NeighborWorks has provided Hope with a $300,000 check as an initial investment to continue its work. Hope has already provided some financial assistance to start the development of the Midtown neighborhood.

"We realized a long time ago that there is not much we can do by ourselves, but together we can make a difference in this region that needs so much help and has so much potential," Hope CEO Bill Bynum said. "... Over the past few years housing has become more of a challenging for people across the country. It's critically important that we work together to address the needs of homeowners as well as affordable rental housing."

The master plan for Midtown includes several development initiatives including 22 affordable, energy-efficient homes under construction that will be completed by the end of August, Jackson Housing Authority Executive Director Shelia Jackson said today.

Midtown Partners Executive Director Kristi Hendrix said that Hope's membership with NeighborWorks means more opportunities for the Midtown development including additional funds and access to training and national experts.

West Jackson Barbershop Grows

A west Jackson barbershop celebrates its growth this month after owner David White purchased the building where is shop is located.

White started White's Perfect Kutz & Styles on Terry Road in 2006, and has remained on the same street that is now called University Boulevard.

"We purchased the building on Terry Road and are expanding the barbershop," he said. "Our first shop was just two chairs and grew to six. This is my third shop on Terry Road, and the largest. I want to invest my money in the area."

White, 30, grew up in Jackson's Washington Addition neighborhood, and said he invested more than $100,000 in west Jackson. He also said that Jackson State University's growth has increased his business.

"The customer base continues to go up," White said. "The demand is up and more students are patronizing local businesses."

White's Perfect Kutz & Styles (1334 University Blvd.) celebrates its grand opening June 24 at 11 a.m. Representatives from the city of Jackson and the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce will honor the business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.