About JDDC

The soul of Jackson lives in our Downtown District. The Jackson Downtown Development Corporation (JDDC) works to enhance the quality of life in Jackson and the economic prospects of Jackson through the purposeful design, promotion and facilitation of strategic investment in its Downtown District. Our efforts drive economic development leading to the creation of a unique and vibrant community which encourages people to live, work and visit Downtown Jackson.

Logo for Tennessee Main Street Program featuring a building with dancers on the roof, a lamppost, and signs that say "Live," "Work," and "Play."
Logo for Main Street America featuring a stylized streetlamp and a multicolored leaf design

Main Street Community

Over the past 35 years, the National Main Street Center has led the development of a national network of over 2,000 historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts: Main Street America™. Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, Main Street America™ represents the broad diversity that makes this country so unique. The Main Street movement grew out of a recognition that a community is only as strong as its core and in downtown Jackson, we believe the same. Our downtown has been accredited with Main Street America for over 25 years!

Learn More
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A woman with long, wavy, brown hair and light skin, smiling with white teeth, wearing a dark green shirt, against a black background.
Close-up photo of a woman with curly blonde hair, light makeup, red lipstick, wearing a white blazer with a checkered pattern over a black top, gold jewelry, smiling slightly, against a dark background.

  • Beth Ann Simpson is the Downtown Director for Downtown Jackson, TN. She has been in Jackson since 2005, when she came to Jackson to attend Lambuth University, now the University of Memphis at Lambuth. She has always loved the downtown and midtown areas, and she has had the experience of watching this area grow into what it is today, seeing the immense potential it still has for growth in the years to come. She has a masters degree in Leadership and Policy Studies and feels that her 12 years of experience in higher education has given her a love for fostering community, connecting people to resources, and advocating for solutions to alleviate barriers.

  • Katie Weatherford is the Communications Director for theCO, leveraging her expertise in graphic design and passion for community development to amplify Downtown’s mission. A proud Jackson native, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Freed Hardeman University. Previously, as the Director of the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce, she discovered her knack for community event planning and marketing tailored to support small businesses. With her creative eye and strategic approach, Katie continues to amplify theCO's community engagement efforts.

  • Maddie McMurry serves as Editor-in-Chief of Our Jackson Home and Communications Manager for theCO. She is a writer and photographer who loves telling real and authentic stories from behind the camera or on the page. Maddie came to Jackson to attend Union University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with a minor in photojournalism. She also owns her wedding and portrait photography business, which allows her to capture love stories in Tennessee and across the country. Her passion is to communicate authentically and tell meaningful stories of people in the Jackson community.

Board of Directors

A smiling woman with glasses and jewelry stands in front of a modern glass building.

Stephanie Graham

A confident African American man in a gray suit, white shirt, patterned red tie, with a maroon sweater underneath, standing with his hands clasped in front of him in an indoor or covered outdoor setting with modern architecture.
A smiling man wearing a black cap and a plaid shirt with rolled-up sleeves outdoors, with trees in the background.

Ben Harris

A smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a light blue t-shirt and a necklace, standing outdoors with blurred green foliage in the background.
A woman with glasses smiling outdoors, wearing a green jacket over a black top, standing in front of blurred trees with autumn leaves.

Lisa Garner

A woman with dark hair styled in twists, wearing a sleeveless purple dress, standing outdoors with autumn leaves in the background. She is smiling with red lipstick, wearing hoop earrings, a black wristwatch, and a delicate bracelet.
A middle-aged man with gray hair and a beard smiling outdoors, wearing a black shirt and a blue wristwatch, with blurred trees in the background.

Ben Ferguson

A man with glasses and a shaved head wearing a light-colored, striped dress shirt and khaki pants, smiling outdoors with blurred trees in the background.
A woman smiling outdoors, wearing a white blouse and beige checkered vest, with her arms softly crossed in front of her. The background features blurred greenery.

Roberta Milam

A young man with dark hair and a beard smiling, wearing a light blue checkered shirt and dark pants with a brown belt, standing outdoors with blurred trees in the background.
A woman with light skin and curly brown hair standing outdoors with a blurred background of trees with autumn leaves. She is smiling, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, white pants, a blue scarf around her neck, earrings, and has a tattoo on her right forearm.

Trista Havner

A smiling man in a blue blazer and checkered shirt standing outdoors with autumn trees in the background.
A young woman with long dark hair, smiling, wearing a patterned sleeveless sweater and beige pants, standing outdoors near a modern glass building.

Claire Pruett

A smiling man with a beard and brown hair, wearing a maroon polo shirt, standing outdoors with a colorful mural in the background.
Portrait of an older man with gray hair and beard, smiling, wearing a pink polo shirt and beige pants, standing outdoors with trees in the background.

Ryan Porter

A woman with blonde hair is smiling outdoors, wearing a colorful patterned blazer with red, blue, and white, a red blouse, black pants, and jewelry. There are trees and sunlight in the background.

Tina Prescott

Ben Burleson

Richard Donnell

Logan McCoy

Don McCorry

Terica Smith

Debbie Dunaway

Freeman McKindra

Design Committee:

Sammy West, Mark Cancia, Lizzie Emmons, Paul Taylor, Roberta Milam, and Lexi Powell