Jackson, Michigan receives Cool City designation by Governor Granholm for the Jackson Downtown ALIVE! neighborhood

On June 2, 2004, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced that 20 Cool Cities pilot projects will receive catalyst grants of up to $100,000 and will have access to more than $100 million in state grants, loans, and other resources. The initiative, designed to help foster the development of vibrant, attractive cities and urban centers, is part of Governor Granholm's economic development plan for Michigan.

One hundred and fifty-one project applications from 112 Michigan cities were submitted for the Cool Cities pilot program. A multi-agency team reviewed each project, looking for those that demonstrated close partnerships with existing community organizations and the private sector and offered plans for creating large-scale neighborhood or community improvement.

Jackson's Cool Cities Pilot Program
Future Vision : Downtown Jackson ALIVE!

Efforts to transform Jackson into a COOL place to live, work, and play have been underway and building momentum for several years. Jackson community leaders in both the economic development and quality of life sectors are well aware of the fact that those communities that can retain, attract and nurture critical numbers of knowledgeable, creative people will be the thriving communities of the future. In other words, within the context of Governor Granholm's acknowledgment of this, COOL cities will thrive and we are working hard to make sure that Jackson, Michigan will be one of those cities.

Through a network of partnerships we refer to here as Downtown Jackson ALIVE! , we have rolled up our sleeves and are creatively harnessing our unique strengths and assets to become a community that is culturally vibrant and economically fertile. Jackson has a rich history on both fronts and in recent years has experienced a renewed interest on the part of a broad range of community stakeholders in investing the time, talent and treasure required to once again reinvent ourselves and our community. Our efforts are strategically focused on our downtown neighborhood. This neighborhood is anchored in our city center (DDA district) and extends to the north to include the County Fairgrounds and a 35-acre former industrial site/Armory Arts Project location and to the South to include the Partnership Park neighborhood. The logic of this geographic footprint as a strategic focus has everything to do with our understanding of the importance of a vibrant 24/7 downtown surrounded by equally vibrant areas that include mixed income residential, cultural, recreational and commercial uses. It also has to do with making sure that we take advantage of the momentum created by the vision for the Armory Arts Project which is the catalyst for our efforts. The Project will transform a 147 s.f. former industrial complex four blocks from the city center into a vibrant arts and cultural hub featuring affordable living and working space for artists, performance/exhibit space, rental space for nonprofit and community arts and cultural groups as well as commercial space for galleries, bakeries, and coffee shops, and arts related businesses. Phase two of the project will include a creative industries innovation center designed to attract entrepreneurs and nurture start-up businesses.

Emboldened by the vision for The Armory Arts Project, the Jackson community is re-imagining itself around its arts and cultural assets, strengths and potential. We are committed to transforming Jackson's image from the "home of the largest walled prison" to that of an exciting, arts and cultural destination, a livable community known for nurturing the creativity and innovation of its residents, businesses and leaders. The Downtown Jackson ALIVE! neighborhood is the place where we believe we must concentrate our efforts if we are to be successful. As noted in a recent Retail and Residential Market Study commissioned by the Downtown Development Authority, "The Armory Arts Project, the Grand River 'sculpture walk,' restoration of the Michigan Theater, and planned amphitheater are developments that will bolster downtown Jackson's role as an important destination for arts and entertainment." We would add that the community of our dreams is not only a destination for visitors, but first and foremost a community of choice for people to live and businesses to thrive.

Several of the initiatives that are part of Downtown Jackson ALIVE! are already underway and at various stages of planning and implementation. These efforts represent the strategic alignment of broad-based partnerships. In other words, whether it is the City, The Enterprise Group of Jackson, The Community Action Agency, the Downtown Development Authority, the Arts and Culture Alliance, the Fitness Council or the Manufacturers Association, we are and have been working together to make our vision of a vibrant downtown neighborhood a reality. The most ambitious, bold and visible among these efforts is The Armory Arts Project which has captured the imagination of the community and for the purposes of this application is the Catalyst Grant Project. The Armory Arts Project will transform a blighted former industrial complex four blocks from the city center into a vibrant hub of arts and cultural activity featuring 39 affordable loft apartments designed to meet the living and working needs of artists of all disciplines and their families. The Project will also include flexible rental space for arts & culture-related community, nonprofit and commercial use. Exhibit and performance space will put the artists in direct contact with the public on a regular basis. The Armory Arts Project is most accurately characterized as a Tipping Point initiative that builds on recent collaborative community successes including the building of the new Consumers Energy Corporate Headquarters and the uncapping of the Grand River. The Project is also surrounded by the constellation of supporting and aligned Downtown Jackson ALIVE! initiatives listed below:

1. Initiative: Development of the Grand River Arts Walk (urban leg of the Jackson Riverwalk Trail)
2. Initiative: Redevelopment of National Guard Armory (original 1839 prison, grounds and granite wall) located adjacent to the Armory Arts Project
3. Initiative: Creative Industries Innovation Center
4. Initiative: Partnership Park Neighborhood Revitalization
5. Initiative: Project U-Turn
6. Initiative: Downtown Façade Improvement Program
7. Initiative: Downtown Residential Rehabilitation Program
8. Initiative: Cultural Plan
9. Initiative: Development of Mechanic St. Arts Corridor
10. Initiative: Jackson Amtrak Depot Restoration
11. Initiative: West End Downtown Redevelopment (Library District)
    a) Hayes Hotel - Adaptive reuse for mixed 1st floor commercial/retail and 1- and 2-BR residential apartments, preserving the historic façade and character of the building.
    b) Adaptive reuse or demolition and redevelopment of the former Consumers Energy office building (228,000 Possible uses may include an urban retail mall and parking deck, with additional retail or office development north of Pearl Street.
    c) Connectivity of the west-end downtown redevelopment to the Riverwalk / Arts Walk / Armory Arts Project through streetscaped, walkable/bikeable paths displaying public art.
12. Initiative: Creation of a Comprehensive Downtown Marketing Plan
13. Initiative: Creation of economic development gap financing incentives for downtown revitalization
14. Initiative: Jackson District Library Carnegie Branch Expansion
15. Initiative: Jackson District Library - Outreach Program

16. Initiative: Jackson District Library - High-Speed Internet Enhancement

Download Cool City Logos for use in the Jackson's Cool City district's marketing efforts - ideal for advertisements, newsletters, letterheads and much more!  Express your pride!  The zip file includes color and black and white logos in various formats (.tif, .jpg, .eps, .png, and .gif)