Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference @ The University of Maryland November 3-4, 2005

1. Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference@TheUniversity of MarylandNovember 3-4, 2005

2. E-CityJackson State University by Roy DeBerry, Ph.D. Vice President for Economic Development & Local Governmental Affairs Jackson State University Post Office Box 17240 Jackson, MS 39217 e-Mail: roy.l.deberry@jsums.edu Website: www.jsums.edu

3. e-City @ Jackson State University Working to make a difference in West Jackson

4. Who are We? e-City is a university-based economic and community development initiative that involves the business, non-profit, faith-based and government sectors. It is also the focus of significant intellectual and service activity of JSU faculty and students.

5. Our Mission The e-City Initiative will facilitate the development of economies and neighborhoods in West Jackson through promotion of education, technical assistance and innovative technologies.

6. Our Vision Over the next ten years, we envision that e-City will be transformed from an inner city development challenge to a model urban center, with the universal use of technology as a means to such transformation.

7. Our Stakeholders • Our community includes students, faculty, staff, residents, faith-based institutions, and business owners. • Our community also includes consumers outside of e-city who consume goods, services, and products in e-City.

8. Map of Targeted Area

9. Demographics According to the 2000 Census data: • e-City has a total population of 22,626. • 87% of the residents are African American and 12% are Caucasian. • Unlike the city of Jackson, which has seen a 40 percent increase of non-white ethnic groups since 1990 (specifically Hispanics) only 1 percent of e-City residents are Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian. However, Hurricane Katrina has changed this statistic. • The median household income in e-City is 40 percent less than in Jackson as a whole. The median household income is $8,185 and 35% of the e-City residents live below the poverty level.

10. Strengths (Assets) of e-City • e-City is anchored by the downtown business district, the e-Center, the largest shopping mall in the region, and a major research university, Jackson State University, serves as its hub; • Great access to major interstate systems (I-20, I-220, I-55) & Metro Parkway; • Pockets of well-established neighborhoods whose median household and family incomes as well as housing values surpass the medians for the City of Jackson; • 5 neighborhood schools, including one elementary that has attained the highest state testing designation of Level 5;

11. Strengths • Designated federal Enterprise Community • Has an historical district & Margaret Walker Alexander Research Center; • Home of John Perkins, nationally known social and religious pioneer; • Neighborhood Parks; and • Significant social capital – long-term residents, non-profits, churches, faith-based organizations, and Habitat for Humanity.

12. How do we build upon our strengths?...Our Goals • Create a premiere urban university; • Re-establish a linkage between the university and community; • Create a critical mass of reinvestment; and help stimulate employment and entrepreneurship through the innovative use of technology; and • Encourage residential and business retention as well as attract new activity to e-City.

13. Our Objectives • Complete the comprehensive plan for e-City, which encompasses all the plans from the county, city and university master plan; • Complete the reconstruction of 10 homes on Barrett Avenue, Dalton and Booker streets in Washington Addition. Six (6) new homes have been either leased or sold; • Complete the clean–up of land we own and secure financial partners to buy and/or build the other 10 properties owned by the university/EBC;

14. Objectives • Provide technical assistance as we partner with the non-profit and private sectors to build mixed income housing in University Park, Deer Park and Olin Park neighborhoods; • Encourage the building of retail outlets along Lynch Street, Rose Street, and Terry Road. The housing and retail activities will provide training and jobs for the people in e-City; • Stimulate the creation of at least two new businesses on Lynch Street by the end of 2006;

15. Objectives • As Parkway Commissioner, facilitate Phase II completion of the Metro Parkway in Fall 2005; • Partner with Jackson Public School system through the Mississippi Learning Academy to enhance the K-12 schools in e-City; • Encourage the new Mayor and CAO to reopen the police substation in Washington Addition; and • Design and complete the e-City Center for Economic and Community Development-$1 million facility to serve as the gateway to Jackson State from the community and downtown.

16. Accomplishments • Fannie Mae Assessment completed in 2004. Featured in a national magazine—NACUBO’s Business Officer. • Completed housing study for Time-Warner Cable, which analyzed the middle-class housing demand in metro Jackson; • Assessed Entergy-Hinds County Economic Development District Study. The study examined assets in West Jackson and determined how many e-Citians travel great distances to shop and entertain.

17. Accomplishments • HUD (HOOP) grant-funded a comprehensive plan for Barrett Avenue (Washington Addition). Will use the plan as a model for all of the Addition; • Partnered with UniDev Consultants to develop a partial plan for Rose and Lynch Streets retail development;

18. Accomplishments • An historical district plan for Lynch Street (Timbuktu to JSU) is about 60% complete. The Corridor will house a museum, renovated COFO offices, retail business, reclaimed Mt. Olive Cemetery, Civil Rights tours and other developments • City of Jackson street improvement (Lynch Street Infrastructure). The City of Jackson has agreed to resurface/landscape Lynch from Dalton to Terry Road when heavy construction at the University is complete.

19. Accomplishments • Phase I of the Metro Parkway construction is complete • JSU’s massive redevelopment has created a bevy of residential and retail activities in e-City from refurbished homes to $100 million of new construction on campus.

20. “Where do we go from here?” Next Steps: • Seek Private developer partnerships/collaborations; • Create an e-City Foundation; • Institutionalize federal, state, county and city collaboration; • Create access to CRA funds and Tax Increment Financing (TIF); • Become a wireless campus and community;

21. Where do we go from here? NEXT STEPS: • Involve the College of Business more in helping to stimulate entrepreneurship and e-City business expansion specifically; • Work specifically with University’s colleges to facilitate Service Learning; and • e-City has over 8,500 students, faculty, and staff and 21,000 residents in the community. This is a captured market waiting to be served. How can you help us provide the services for this market?

22. “How can you help?” • Your financial and networking resources; • Expertise and leadership investment; • Other professional assets • Desire to tell the “story” of change @ JSU and West Jackson • Act as advisory board • Act as network/resource

23. The e-City dream continues. . . Keep Hope Alive!!

24. Thank You.