Jackson State University played host to a high-powered discussion of business ideas Friday at the College of Business.
About 30 representatives from business, government and nonprofits attended the Jackson Business Developers Roundtable.
Topics ranged from increasing involvement in nonprofits with business development, to encouraging young people to become entrepreneurs to promoting local businesses to discussing the Vision 2022 Business Development Plan for the City of Jackson.
The purpose of the meeting was to develop collaboration among various business interests, said Dr. Mary M. White, interim vice president of institutional advancement and chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Professional Development that co-hosted the one-day event.
“This is the first roundtable, expected to be the first of many,” she said.
It was moderated by Michael Harris, associate manager of the Mississippi Development Authority’s Entrepreneur Center, which co-hosted the event.
Panelists included Teresa Cheeks-Wilson, Federal Reserve Bank of Memphis; John Brandon, bureau manager of the Entrepreneur Center @ Mississippi Development Authority; Janita Stewart, Mississippi District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration; and Willie Jones, president and CEO of Dependable Source Corp. of Jackson.
Panelists addressed the results of a survey taken prior to the meeting that asked: What should be done to increase business vitality and jobs in Jackson?
Results included: More training for business owners; encourage small business owners grow their businesses with a focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term gains; become more business friendly by giving tax breaks and incentives for small businesses; create an office of entrepreneurship; encourage home ownership.
One of the frequent responses centered on crime, including “Work toward changing the image of Jackson being crime infested.”
Participants were also asked what their organizations could do to help build a collaborative business development for Jackson.
Responses included: Make Jackson more “immigrant welcome” with welcome signs, a multi-lingual website, creation of sister cities to attract foreign investment; having JSU faculty participate in business development; promotion and use of MDA’s Emerging Leaders Program that educates small business; more seminars for realistic guidance on marketing, credit, collateral; more events like these with like-minded, pro-small business organizations and entrepreneurs.
The panel also discussed minority owned businesses (MOB) and the unique issues they share, as well as rural entrepreneurship.
Organizations represented included: Mississippi Department of Education; LABA/Link Latin-America Business Association; BankPlus; Mississippi e-Center; 1 Million Cups – Jackson; Innovate Mississippi; WeBase Management Solutions, LLC; Jackson Chamber of Commerce; Venture Incubator; City of Jackson Business Development; Millsaps Else School of Management; Hinds County Economic Development Authority; Mayor’s Office, City of Jackson; JSU Community Engagement; Mississippi Development Authority Minority and Small Business Development; JSU Center for Business Development and Economic Research; Women for Progress of Mississippi Inc.
For more information, contact White, at 601-979-2541
For more on the Department of Entrepreneurship and Professional Development, see: https://www.jsums.edu/entrepreneurship/
For more on the MDA’s Entrepreneurship Center, see: www.mississippi.org/tec