Jackson Times-Journal
City of Jackson receives stimulus money
By FELICIA TACKETT
Times-Journal Writer
Published: Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:10 PM EDT
JACKSON-- In today’s poor economy, the City of Jackson received good news Thursday, when they were informed they were the recipients of $2 million in federal stimulus money for the local rail line.
Because of the positive impact the funds will have on Jackson, Mayor, Randy Heath, called a press conference Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Y.M.C.A. in Jackson. During the press conference Heath issued a press release that stated, “This is certainly thrilling news and possesses the potential to have a tremendous financial impact on our community and region as well.”
Heath informed those at the press conference that Safety/Service Director, Bill Sheward, was the one who applied for the funding through Governor Ted Strickland’s office. During the press conference Sheward said, “I was shocked, but pleased when I heard we had received the funding."
Heath went on to say the funds would be used to rehabilitate the short-line railroad that not only serves the county, but the region as well.
“Improving our city’s short-line railroad to operate at peak efficiency for the benefit of our business and industrial community, has been a commitment of mine since becoming mayor,” Heath stated. “My administration had already accessed more than $600,000 in grants and loans for the benefit of the railroad, and this really gives us the ability to grow our service to not only our current customers, but hopefully, our future ones as well.”
Heath went out of his way to thank Sheward for requesting the funds for the City, and for taking care of all the necessary paperwork that allowed the City to be successful in securing the money.“On a personal note, I want to try to develop a uniform business and industrial message that we are here and are a good place to do business.”
Heath talked about the 1990s when Jackson was thriving, and how it served as an example to other communities. He credited the mayor and service director at the time, Tom Evans and Ron Speakman, with leading the city into the progressive state it was in.
The mayor said that questions about the availability of a rail line, is the most asked question from any business considering a move to the area. It is for that reason the City is insistent that keeping the rail line in top notch condition is so important to the growth of the city.
“There was a time in 1985 that it looked like the city wouldn’t have rail service,” Heath stated.
“If we had not obtained the rail service at that time,” Speakman said, “We would have lost in excess of 2,000 jobs in the area.”
Sheward indicated that he applied for seven different stimulus bail-outs, including the one received for the railroad, so the possibility exists that another press conference announcing good news may be in the near future.
Randy concluded the press conference with, “This is a very positive day for our economy because we have the framework and foundation in place. Success comes from opportunities.”
ftackett@timesjournal.com
