History

The City of Jackson received a grant from the Economic Development Administration to prepare an Economic Development Strategy for the Hwy 80 Corridor which runs approximately eight miles from the Pearl River to the city limits of Clinton. The Central Mississippi Planning and Development District hected to serve a s the lead contractor for the project which will provide the City of Jackson with a plan for the redevelopment of and reinvestment in the Hwy 80 Corridor. Subcontractor/associate firms include JBHM Architects, Quicksilver Creative, and SOL Engineering.

Hwy 80 is an east–west United States highway much of which was once part of the early auto trail known as the Dixie Overland Highway. As the "0" in the route number indicates, it was originally a cross-country route, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. As a member of the inaugural class of U.S. highways commissioned in 1926, Hwy 80 was the first all-weather coast-to-coast route available to auto travelers. For a time known as the "Broadway of America" it was also called the Old Spanish Trail, the Southern National, the Lone Star Route, the Pinal Pioneer Parkway, the Bankhead Highway and even the Lee Highway. Its legendary history is second only to U.S. Route 66 in American highway folklore, as several significant historical events have occurred on or near Hwy 80.

• Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed approximately four miles south of Hwy 80 in Gibsland, Louisiana.


• Lee Harvey Oswald was captured at the Texas Theatre on Jefferson Street in Oak Cliff, which at the time was a business spur of Hwy 80.


• Edmund Pettus Bridge (Hwy 80). This unique bridge constructed in the late 1930’s spans the Alabama River at Selma and is the gateway to the Selma-Montgomery National Trail. It was just east of the bridge that the famed “Bloody Sunday” confrontation occurred in March of 1965 leading to the National Voting Rights Act.

The City of Jackson, Mississippi received a $400,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration and provided $100,000 in matching funds, for a total of $500,000, to prepare an Economic Development Strategy for the Hwy 80 Corridor, stretching from the Pearl River to the City of Clinton. The Economic Development Strategy (the Strategy) will provide a plan for the redevelopment of and reinvestment in the economically challenged Hwy 80 Corridor, which includes the Metrocenter Mall. The Strategy will be completed during the 2010 calendar year.

The Central Mississippi Planning and Development District (CMPDD) has been contracted by the City of Jackson to serve as the lead agency in the preparation of the Strategy which will be developed in three phases, including, Land Use and Infrastructure Inventory, Concept and Economic Development Plan, and Marketing Plan, which will also become the structure of the document. Project subcontractors include JBHM Architects, Quicksilver Creative, and SOL Engineering.

To learn more visit:
Wikipedia
Federal Highway Administration

Central Mississippi Planning & Development District (CMPDD) is a sub-state regional planning organization serving the governments of seven adjacent counties in central Mississippi - Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Warren and Yazoo. CMPDD is a non-profit corporation concerned with meeting the ever-changing needs of its seven member counties and thirty-three municipalities. The District promotes area-wide progress through regional planning and development concepts in such areas as local planning, governmental management, and human resource coordination.

JBHM Architects operates as one company with offices strategically located to provide local delivery that is responsive, cost efficient, and exemplary on a regional basis with offices in Biloxi, Columbus, Jackson, and Tupelo, Mississippi. Diversified services include: Architecture, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design, and Program Management.

Quicksilver Creative is a full-service marketing communications agency. Their special area of expertise is assisting community-based organizations establish brand identity and build lasting connections with core markets. Quicksilver Creative provides clear, cohesive, solution-driven strategies that meet each client’s specific goals.

SOL Engineering Services, LLC is a regional technical service provider with headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi that was established in 2001. Their mission is to become the premier provider of engineering, construction management, quality assurance, facilities support, and information technology services in North America. They currently service clients throughout the southeastern United States. SOL Engineering’s reputation and key to success is built on providing high quality and responsive engineering and project management services while maintaining professional commitments and ensuring that full satisfaction is given to each client.


The purpose of the Strategy is to provide the City of Jackson with a blueprint that can be used to help transform the Hwy 80 Corridor and restore its economic viability. Crafting a vision that includes multiple elements, the goal of the Strategy is to assist the City in retaining businesses and attracting new development and investment focused on the revitalization of the Hwy 80 Corridor.

The Strategy will first inventory the land use, building conditions, type of businesses, and existing infrastructure in the project area. This information will be used to determine what has been successful in the area and help identify infrastructure deficiencies. The input of residents and business owners will be solicited to ensure the vision of the Strategy is in keeping with their wants and needs. The Strategy will then provide recommendations for infrastructure improvements, including roads, water and sewer, power, natural gas, and telecommunications along with cost estimates for the improvements, building redevelopment, and zoning regulations. Special attention will be given to the reinvestment in and/or redevelopment of the Metrocenter facility. The Strategy will also identify types of businesses that should be attracted to the Corridor in the future. A marketing plan for the Strategy itself and the Corridor as a whole will also be developed. Newsletters, a website, brochures, and a video presentation, among other marketing mediums, will be developed as part of the Strategy as well.