Organization

EG gets boost in funding

Thursday, November 20, 2008
By Fredricka Paul
fpaul@citpat.com—768-4927

The city of Jackson has added an extra zero to its annual contribution to The Enterprise Group by pledging $100,000 toward the group’s capital campaign.

In previous years, the city has allocated $10,000 to the countywide economic development agency, City Manager William Ross said.

“If you want to have strong economic development, you have to have resources to make it happen,’’ Ross said. “It doesn’t just fall into your lap.’’

Councilman Carl L. Breeding disagreed with the allocation. He was the only council member to vote against the funding this week.

When the city is making cuts in programs such as leaf pickup, Breeding said, it should not be “bailing out’’ agencies such as The Enterprise Group.

The money could be better spent hiring an assistant city manager for economic development, he said, and using the rest of the money on city services or fixing roads.

Ross said there will be less money for city services if the economic base declines.

The city will give $50,000 to the agency now and the remainder when the group reaches its $2 million capital campaign goal.

“Any new business we bring into town will definitely pay for the amount of money they are giving us,’’ said Scott Fleming, CEO of The Enterprise Group.

With the city’s commitment, the agency has about $762,000 toward its goal, which Fleming said he hopes to achieve next year.

Jackson County previously voted to donate $100,000 a year. Future contributions will require council consideration each year.

The Enterprise Group is amending its bylaws to add Jackson’s mayor or a council member to its board of directors. The city manager already serves on the board.