City of Jackson receives certification as Redevelopment Ready Community

Designation facilitates private investment, improves economic development opportunities

LANSING, Mich. – For establishing a solid foundation to attract private investment and further build on municipality assets, the city of Jackson has been awarded Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today. Jackson is in full alignment with the RRC best practices and the city is poised to attract and support private investment.

The MEDC will hold a formal presentation of the RRC Certification Award during a city council meeting which begins at 6:30pm, Tuesday, May 29 at Jackson City Hall, 161 West Michigan Avenue, Jackson.

The mid-Michigan city joins 21 other communities that have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to planning, zoning along with other key features that remove traditional barriers and promote opportunities for prospective investors. Other certified RRC communities include Allegan, Battle Creek, Boyne City, Dearborn, Eastpointe, Escanaba, Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Hudsonville, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Lathrup Village, Manistee, Marshall, Middleville, Muskegon, Pinckney, Roseville, Southfield, Traverse City and Ypsilanti.

“Our mission at MEDC is to empower communities so they can proactively shape their future; a future built on a solid foundation of retaining and attracting business investment and talent,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “We look forward to building upon our relationship with the city and supporting them in their local efforts.” 

Jackson received a formal RRC baseline report in April 2017 and worked to achieve certification in just less than one year. In this time Jackson has strengthened its master plan, begun annual reviews of its economic development strategy and created an overarching marketing strategy. Jackson has positioned itself to improve the quality of life of its residents and attract investment from across the country. Achieving RRC certification is a statement to the private sector that the city has a clear vision for the future and the development process is streamlined, predictable and user-friendly.

“Over the past several years the city of Jackson has updated its ordinances and procedures to demonstrate to the region and the world that we are ready, willing, and able to accommodate new and expanded endeavors,” said City Manager Patrick Burtch, PhD. “The city has actively embraced, and even initiated, the utilization of a variety of economic development tools to ensure the success of the recent and pending redevelopment activities. The Redevelopment Ready Communities Certification is an additional means of publicizing the potential that exists for business owners, developers and investors to become partners with the city to enhance the ever growing sense of place.”

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.