‘Drive Jackson’: Jackson County reveals 20-year vision for Jackson’s future
Daylyn Huff & Sean Graney | WLNS 6 Jackson | February 11, 2026
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– Jackson County leaders have launched Drive Jackson, a 20-year vision plan and leadership council designed to guide the region’s development through 2045. The initiative was formally unveiled at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting, exactly one year after the vision planning process began.
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“We specifically made sure that there are a lot of areas where people can find themselves,” Rachel Buchanan, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Experience Jackson, said. “As leadership is going to change over the years and as opportunities are going to arise, you’ll see the plan ebb and flow.”
The plan is a collaborative effort between the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Jackson, Jackson County and several local foundations and private investors. It incorporates feedback from more than 1,300 residents to establish goals for education, housing, economic vitality and community health.
Goal A: Improve Quality of Place and Identity
Goal B: Invest in Education and Learning
Goal C: Strengthen Housing and Economic Vitality
Goal D: Foster a Safe and Healthy Community
The 70-page document was developed using nearly 6,000 pieces of feedback collected from more than 1,300 residents, local businesses and government officials. A 24-person Key Leadership Committee worked with stakeholders to analyze input gathered through county-wide meetings, online surveys and pop-up events. These efforts resulted in 54 focus areas designed to align the county for the next two decades.
The plan is organized into four primary goal categories. These include improving the quality of place and identity, investing in education and learning, strengthening housing and economic vitality and fostering a safe and healthy community. Ryan Tarrant, president and CEO of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Experience Jackson, said the alignment of these goals represents a new chapter for the region.
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“The completion of Drive Jackson proves that our community’s future is in our own hands. By aligning our goals—from economic vitality to quality of place—we are effectively rewriting our story. We are moving past old projections of decline and stepping into a new era of prosperity,” Tarrant said. He invited individuals and organizations to engage with the plan to make the county a destination for work and residency.
To manage the long-term execution of these goals, officials announced the creation of the Drive Jackson Vision Council. This cross-sector leadership body will act as an accountability engine to monitor progress and align partners. The council is tasked with removing barriers to growth to ensure the county remains resilient through 2045.
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Buchanan emphasized that community involvement will remain a priority during the implementation phase. “Including each segment of the community was important in the planning and research process and even more so in the implementation moving forward,” Buchanan said. “The plan is not only community-led but offers the opportunity for each resident to see themselves in part of the plan.”
Reginald Woods represented the Michigan International Speedway at the gathering, and sys attracting younger Michiganders will be critical to the region’s long-term growth.
“Just more engagement from the younger demographic, I guess that’s not a change, that’s probably something that’s coming down the road,” Woods said. “Once the younger demographic hears that there is a plan, I assume that there’s going to be more engagement.”
Buchanan says the plan’s impact will be measured using population growth, education opportunities, and families choosing Jackson as key indicators.
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“Seeing the population grow, seeing education on the rise, seeing families choose to make Jackson their home — and ultimately seeing who shows up and how the community grows and thrives,” Buchanan said.
Woods says success is something residents expect to see firsthand, and he says it starts with increasing foot traffic and lifting up small businesses downtown.
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“I think that’s success to me, when you have more foot traffic and you’re keeping those businesses downtown, but you’re also attracting more businesses downtown,” Woods said.
The full 20-year vision plan is available at drivejacksoncounty .com. Residents can also visit the website to opt in for ongoing communication updates as the Vision Council begins its implementation work.
Source: WLNS 6 News
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Original story: https://www.wlns.com/jackson/drive-jackson-jackson-county-reveals-20-year-vision-for-jacksons-future/
