JACKSON, Mich. — When Mayor Derek Dobies and City Manager Patrick Burtch came to Jackson close to 10 years ago, there was a lot of work to be done.
Now, the city is in the midst of its own renaissance.
"We’re seeing it now," said Burtch, "but I think you'll see the fruits of that labor in terms of how many people we're seeing downtown and the kind of support services we see to balance those things."
Mayor Dobies addressed the city at the King Recreational Center. The neighborhood it sits in, as well as many others, will get some much-needed improvements.
Dobies says he'll focus on health, safety and security.
"It’s a component of economic development. No matter how hard my staff and I work, if the community isn't safe, people don't locate here," said Burtch.
Vice Mayor Arlene Robinson says she counted more than 120 people at the address, but that more need to be involved to help improve the city.
"Our neighbors and friends ... we're all one, we're all individual, we're all Jackson," she said. "We need to come together and make sure that we see progress, make change and participate in what we want to see happen in our city."
To Burtch and other elected officials, the progress the city has made shapes up for a bright future.
"I think that Jackson has come a long way, and truly believe that what we're trying to accomplish in terms of economic and racial equity and all things we're trying to do to give people opportunity is working. We're going to see this more and more in the future. This town has just changed."
