The mission of the Business Development Division is to foster job creation, support the growth of new and existing businesses and assist entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing capacity building information, resources, and tools. Business Development houses recruitment and retention programs such as Business Entrepreneur Assistance Team (BEAT), Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification Program, and a host of projects and initiatives that support economic development. 

Recruitment and Retention

The Business Development Division engages in economic development through recruitment and retention practices such as business outreach, highlighting exemplary businesses (both monthly and quarterly), facilitating City processes, and marketing local assets such as Jackson’s industrial and commercial areas, workforce, population characteristics, and target industries. This office works to maximize the city’s potential as a thriving center for businesses, jobs, robust neighborhoods and economic opportunity for everyone in the Capital City.

The Business Development Division also administers business surveys and questionnaires to provide a basis for continual improvement of services to the business community and to deliver a common database for decision making or intervention.