Former U. S. Representative from Mississippi, Chip Pickering, Children’s Museums of Mississippi President & CEO Susan Garrard, and Great City Mississippi Foundation Executive Director Taylor Nicholas spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson on July 25. Their topic was the work of the Great City Mississippi Foundation.
Great City Mississippi is a non-profit organization working to see Jackson thrive. The foundation is comprised of local business and community leaders who work with local, state, and national leaders with a focus on public safety, infrastructure, quality of life, and economic and workforce development in Jackson. To learn more, visit greatcityms.org or follow Great City Mississippi on Instagram or Facebook.
The core project on which Great City sees success is the Pearl River flood control project normally called the “One Lake Project.” Nicholas said that he prefers to call it the “Pearl River Restoration Project.” When completed, that project would serve as the catalyst for the development of many life and community improvement activities in Jackson from recreation to culture to business development. Specific areas he addressed were the LeFleur’s Bluff Recreational Area, The Veterans Memorial Research District, the Lefleur Museum District, the Bike Trail System, the Jackson Tech District, and Belhaven Beach to name part of the expected improvement.
All of these improvements are dependent on the success of the Peral River Project. In response to questions, representatives said that a final decision on the project is expected in early 2024 with that decision being made by the U.S. Secretary of the Army.
We thank Garrard, Nicholas, and Rep. Pickering for their presentation and for their work on behalf of our city. They are shown in the following photo with Club President Matt Monsour. From the left, Nicholas, Pickering, Monsour, and Garrard.
