FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2022
Business grants, workforce projects available through the City of Jackson’s Office of Economic Development
(Jackson, Miss.) – The City of Jackson’s Office of Economic Development is proud to announce the re-launch of the CDBG Special Economic Development-related grant programs. These programs include the Small Business Resiliency & Safe Practices grant which will provide funding to businesses up to $30,000 to ensure safe operation and sustainability. This is an attempt to mitigate the economic disruptions resulting from COVID-19. The online application opens July 1.
Since the pandemic, the Office of Economic Development has focused on small business development, workforce training, local tourism and retail recruitment/retention. Staff have created several programs, partnerships and projects that will positively impact the citizens of Jackson.
Forthcoming projects, such as the Pathways to Human Dignity Workforce Development opportunity and the Creativepreneur-based Incubator, both funded by W.K. Kellogg, will reach directly to employees, potential entrepreneurs and creatives. These initiatives are ideal for people looking for upwardly mobile career pathways or those wanting to learn methods to monetize their current skill set. These initiatives are scheduled to roll out starting in the Fall of 2022. The City is now looking for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) with the capacity to deliver these types of training.
The office has partnered with the National League of Cities to restructure the City’s approach to minority contracting. Additional partnerships with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Hope Credit Union and the Rockefeller Foundation are poised to help the business community have greater access to capital and technical assistance to expand Jackson’s footprint.
The overarching goal of the Office of Economic Development is to provide resources and establish fruitful relationships with the community. This is all in an effort to abide by the department’s slogan: “Do Better Business.”
For more information and media inquiries, please contact Jhai Keeton at 601-960-1993 or Jkeeton@jacksonms.gov.