Jackson Free Press

Capital City Gets Long-range Economic Roadmap

It's been a long time coming, but the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership finally has a long-range economic roadmap for the capital city area. We won't know what's in it until this afternoon when the chamber rolls out its Vision 2022/One Voice 10-year plan.

Developing the plan has been more than a year in the making since the chamber board decided the region needed a broad plan at a January 2011 retreat.

Then-GJCP board Chairman Paul Moak characterized the planning process as a "blank sheet of paper." By fall 2011, that sheet of paper was starting to fill up with ideas about how best to transform the Jackson metro.

Last September, GJCP and Market Street conducted focus groups with Jackson-area residents. That focus group said they wanted places to socialize and recreational options, stressing the importance of entertainment districts.

Chamber officials have described the 10-year plan as a living document updated regularly to adapt with a growing community.

The plan's introduction takes place this afternoon, Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 1:30 p.m. in Trustmark Meeting Room at the Jackson Convention Center downtown.

Small Biz Group Endorses Judges

The National Federation of Independent Businesses announced which candidates the organization is supporting in state judicial races.

For the Mississippi State Supreme Court, the business organization is going with incumbent Chief Justice William Waller Jr. in District 1, incumbent Justice Mike Randolph for District 2 and Josiah Dennis Coleman in District 3.

For the Mississippi State Court of Appeals, NFIB/Mississippi endorses Judge E.J. Russell, an incumbent.

Takara Getting Thick

Takara Japanese Steakhouse (951 US Highway 80 East; 601-488-4645) is announcing the grand openings for two locations. Takara Hibachi Express is located at 322 Highway 80, also in Clinton. In addition, Takara Express is located at 106 Byram Business Center Drive in Byram (601-346-6699). Visit www.takarahibachi.com for menus and additional information.

They Call Me 'Mister'

Jackson State University received a $200,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to participate in the Call Me MISTER program, which aims to encourage black men to become elementary school teachers and increase overall teacher diversity.

"This valuable program seeks to increase the pool of black teachers in low performing elementary schools, said Dr. Daniel Watkins, dean of JSU's College of Education and Human Development in statement.

The program enables the university to help work on closing achievement gaps and address the high school dropout rate. Currently, 46 percent of black male students graduate from high school and black males make up only 5 percent of the state's teachers.