Jackson, Tennessee – 2017

411 on 731 is a new event created by the Jackson Chamber that will take place on July 20th at theCO, 541 Wiley Parker Road in Jackson. The public is invited with no registration required.

This event will feature a quick informational session on new developments in the Jackson community.

“Our goal is to keep this as simple as possible, but yet very informative,” states Alexis Long, manager of member engagement, Jackson Chamber. “There are many projects underway or slated to start soon that will have a positive impact on our community and region. This event is designed to allow the opportunity to showcase projects.”

Topics that will be highlighted include bike share, kayaking, economic development, downtown, workforce development and updates from other projects in the area.

The event will begin at 9am and last for one hour. June 8, 2017, Heaven's Cradle held their 5th annual Twilight Run and Rooftop Rendezvous at downtown Jackson's very own West Tennessee Farmer's Market. Heaven's Cradle, a fund of the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, raised $7,957 to provide assistance and comfort to the families suffering from perinatal grief. This year 1,100 people were part of this great event! This is the first year this event was held in downtown Jackson and we hope it won't be the last! What do you get when you have a bunch of Volunteer Firefighters who want to create a safe event for families to celebrate the 4th of July? The Firefighters Freedom Festival.

The Madison County Fire Department consists of 180 volunteer members who are responsible for providing fire safety education to school children, civic groups and businesses throughout Madison County. This group saw a need to provide education and develop additional programs with the focus of reducing fire related injuries and deaths throughout our community especially during the 4th of July holiday.

In response, they decided to put together a free, family oriented festival and Fourth of July Fireworks. They have organized the event, scheduled the activities for children, arranged food concessions and even thought about the porta-johns. Join the Madison County Fire Department 3:00 pm, Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, 308 Grady Montgomery Drive, Jackson, TN 38301 to celebrate!

The Opening Ceremony begins at 5:00 pm. Live music rooted in the rich West Tennessee tradition will begin at 5:30 pm with Audrey Geisel, and is followed at 6:45 pm The Genre Band taking the stage. Fireworks are planned for dusk.

A special “Thank You” to Stage Sponsor: Paul Davis Restoration. Platinum Sponsors include: First South Bank, McKellar Sipes Regional Airport, Kent’s Dents, Ashley Furniture, Cashmaster, Froggy 104, Woodmen Life. The Sponsors along with the Madison County Fire Department are excited to bring this FREE event to the community. Along with the admission, games and rides are also FREE!

Bring your lawn chair, blanket, and perhaps a picnic – or visit the available concession stands while enjoying an evening of family fun in celebration of the 4th of July! Visit https://www.facebook.com/madisoncountyfire or contact the Madison County Fire Department at 731.424.5577 for more information.

Whether it’s an annual event or one of our great live music venues, experience the music which could only be found halfway between Memphis and Nashville! Visit JacksonTN to connect with what is happening in Jackson and West Tennessee. Connect socially on Facebook and Twitter or call 731.425.8333.

Stay up-to-date with what's going on in Jackson, Tennessee! Find out more about Jackson Chamber events, new Jackson Chamber members, announcements and ribbon cuttings. Look for the Member Connection where we highlight one of our members each month and find out how you can make the community better by becoming a chamber member. Check out our monthly newsletters:

February 2017 Video News

Jackson Chamber's February Video News 2017 from Jackson Chamber on Vimeo. Jacksons Still My Home from Jackson Chamber on Vimeo.
This song, produced as a community anthem for Jackson, highlights Tennessee's musical roots with the city's unique identity. Written by Josh Smith and Dave Thomas. Recorded by The Hub City All-Stars which is composed of about 30 artists from Jackson, Tennessee.
The song was recorded at Jaxon Records and features local and regional musicians who were hand-selected to perform in a music video, recorded by videographer Jeremy Gleason, that highlights iconic locations in downtown Jackson. The song was produced by Dr. Jeremy Tubbs, director of music and entertainment at the University of Memphis, along with Josh Smith. “From the blues of Beale Street to the bluegrass of the Smoky Mountains, music is celebrated statewide in Tennessee,” said Kyle Spurgeon, president and CEO of the Jackson Chamber. “As the chamber, we look to highlight the best of the best across all industries, and we were honored to work with Josh’s song and this talented group of musicians to showcase the pride of Jackson and our rich musical heritage.”
Available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon.com and Spotify for download.
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Project Conceived and Funded By JACKSON CHAMBER Jackson, Tennessee
Video Directed and Produced By JEREMY GLEASON Red Art Studios
Songwriters JOSH SMITH DAVE THOMAS
Song Producers JIMMY EXUM JOSH SMITH JEREMY TUBBS
Mixing and Mastering Engineer JEREMY TUBBS
Engineers CALE CONRAD PATRICK MATHENIA
Assistant Engineer JOSEPH KYLE
Musicians and Vocalists (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE) Vocals - Blair Simpson Vocals- Kimberlie Helton Vocals - Bryan Moffitt Acoustic Guitar - Jeremy Tubbs Pedal Steel Guitar - Shannon Cooke Piano - Dave Thomas Guitar - Charley Baker Vocals - Katie McGill Vocals - Emily McGill Vocals - Paula McGill Vocals - Audrey Geisel Vocals - Skyelor Anderson Vocals - Colton Parker Vocals - “Blazin” Blair Ecker Guitar - Wes Henley Drums - Kris Dickerson Guitar - Brandon Kirk Vocals - Phoebe Scott Vocals/Harmonica - Jimmy Taylor Vocals - Lonita McClellan Acoustic Guitar - Ben Jessie Vocals - Cooper Brown Vocals - Hunter Cross Vocals - Cameron Briley Vocals/Acoustic Guitar - Josh Smith Bass Guitar - Andy Dixon Looking for live music this weekend? Jackson and West Tennessee are home to numerous live music venues and special events over the June 22nd weekend. Thanks to our friend Matt Barnacastle and the Jackson Area Music Society for sharing the weekend's live music events!

Thursday June 22nd
• Steve Short & Scott Myatt, Libation Station (Union City), 5:30pm
• Randall French, Breakers Marina (Buchanan), 6:00pm
• Jackson Plectral Society, Casey Jones Village, 6:30pm
• The Southern Fire Band, Elks Lodge, 7:00pm
• Karaoke Night, West Alley BBQ, 7:30pm
• Dagger, Redbones, 8:00pm
• Open Mic w/ The Skeleton Krew, Cody’s Saloon, 8:00pm
• Artifas, Slide & Ride Tavern, 8:00pm
• Randy Cooper & Rick Willams, Jackson Generals Ball Park (post game), 9:00pm

Friday June 23rd
• Skeleton Krew, Fridays at the Fox (downtown), 11:30am
• Skyelor Anderson, Music Bar Crawl (begins at Redbones), 5:30pm
• Southern Fire Band, International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame, 7:00pm
• Rev. Jessie & The Holy Smokes, Mulligans, 7:00pm
• Makayla Collins & The Showtime Band, Music on the Square (Bolivar), 7:00pm
• Freedom, The Deuce (Lexington), 8:00pm
• Six Gun, Redbones, 8:00pm
• John Sutton Band, Breakers Marina (Buchanan), 8:00pm
• Stumpwater, The Naked Turtle, 8:00pm
• Andy Avery, Samuel T. Bryant Distillery, 8:00pm
• Michael Chambers w/ Piecemeal, Ricochet Bar, 8:00pm
• Steve Short & Friends, Flatiron Grille & Bistro, 8:00pm
• Risky Business, The Mic Stand, 8:30pm
• Cotton Clifton & The Pickers w/ The Doublewides, Downtown Tavern, 9:00pm

Saturday June 24th
• Cousin Marco, Lexington Civic Center, 4:30pm
• American Vyral, Gravel Switch, & Shutdown Tactic, The Naked Turtle, 7:00pm
• The Genre Band, Mifflin Family Dance, 7:30pm
• Derrick Brantley, The Windmill Bar (Decaturville), 7:30pm
• Mutual Live, Backroad Therapy, & Seth Walker, The Bassmnt, 8:00pm
• Rev. Jessie & The Holy Smokes, Redbones, 8:00pm
• Tatum Shappley, Mulligans, 9:00pm
• One Nyte Stand, Ricochet Bar, 8:00pm
• 24 Seven, Breakers Marina (Buchanan), 8:00pm
• Chuck Garrett &Steal’n Tyme, MT Bottles (Bradford), 9:00pm
• Kimberlie Helton Band, Jackson Generals Ball Park (post game), 9:00pm
• Freedom, Pine Ridge Club (Medon), 10:00pm
• The Skeleton Krew, The Downtown Tavern, 10:00pm

Sunday June 25th
• Cotton Clifton 3rd Annual Crawfish Boil, Downtown Tavern, 12:00pm
• John McDaniel, Breakers Marina (Buchanan), 4:00pm

Whether it’s an annual event or one of our great live music venues, experience the music which could only be “Made in Tennessee” found halfway between Memphis and Nashville in the heart of the Americana Music Triangle! Visit JacksonTN to connect with what is happening in Jackson and West Tennessee. Connect socially on Facebook and Twitter or call 731.425.8333. FREE Guide Available Online and at Tennessee Welcome Centers

Visit Jackson, TN/Jackson/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau released the highly-anticipated Official Jackson and West Tennessee Visitors Guide. “The 48 page magazine highlights the numerous attractions, destinations and events of the region,“ said Lori Nunnery, Executive Director. “We are thrilled to launch the guide and to be able to collaborate with locally owned Reed: A Marketing Company in producing it.”

Reed: A Marketing Company worked closely with the tourism team to identify locations, coordinate photography, collect information, interview sources, write informative articles, and ultimately lay out and produce a print-ready product. "It’s an exciting time to promote tourism in West Tennessee,” said Mary Reed, Owner. "We’ve enjoyed telling the stories of so many attractions throughout the region, from roadside artwork and family-owned gems to day-long destinations like Discovery Park.”

Located on Interstate 40, halfway between Memphis’ Beale Street and Nashville’s Music Row, Jackson is at the center of a 21-county tour area and at the intersection of Music and Rock-A-Billy Highways. A comprehensive listing of Jackson’s hotels and amenities are included. Featured segments include: Music, History & Civil War, Attractions, Arts & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Annual Festivals & Events. A fold out map of Jackson and Madison County as well as the West Tennessee region are additional benefits of the guide.

View the guide online, or visit the following locations to connect with one: • Visit Jackson, TN (located inside the Jackson Chamber) • Jackson Area Hotels • Tennessee Welcome Centers • Jackson City Hall, Downtown • Madison County Courthouse, Downtown

Whether it’s an annual event or one of our great live music venues, experience the music which could only be found halfway between Memphis and Nashville! Visit JacksonTN to connect with what is happening in Jackson and West Tennessee. Connect socially on Facebook and Twitter or call 731.425.8333. class=

Dr. Leonard T Reinsfelder, Commandant of the National Cryptologic School for the NSA, and Mr. Daniel R Stein, Acting Branch Cybersecurity Education and Awareness Office of Cybersecurity for the Dept. of Homeland Security, present the CAE 2-Y certificate to Dr. Allanna Hamilton and Dr. Tom Pigg of JSCC

Jackson State Community College was recertified through 2022 as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education by the U.S. National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.

The five-year designation puts Jackson State among an elite group of institutions offering computer information technology courses that meet rigorous federal standards and sets graduating students apart from others, said Dr. Tom Pigg, Dean of Computer Information Technology and Health Sciences. Recognized as leaders in the field, only about 40 community colleges and 200 four-year universities across the country have the designation.

“It’s very important; it’s huge, to say the least,” said Pigg. “The benefit is that, because of the rigors required to get the designation, students will have this recognition that they attended a school that is a National Center of Academic Excellence.”

Graduates often find work protecting national security information systems, commercial networks and critical information infrastructure in both the private and public sectors.

Jackson State was recertified after an application process that requires a six-month campus study to meet the government’s criteria. Most schools that apply do not achieve the designation, and those that do typically undergo a 10-week review that identifies areas that need to be improved. Jackson State was approved in less than a month without the need to change anything in its program.

“It’s a pretty exhaustive self-study-type process,” Pigg said. “This is a re-designation, but there’s been a lot of changes with requirements and how the designation process is conducted.”

The National Security Agency launched the program in 1998 to reduce vulnerabilities to the country’s information infrastructure. Its goals are to promote higher education and research while producing professionals with cyber defense expertise.

The program was expanded to two-year colleges, technical schools and government training centers in 2010, and Jackson State was first designated in 2012. “This is a fairly young designation for community colleges,” Pigg said.

The school’s ability to meet the increasing demands of the program criteria will serve the nation well in the protection of the national information infrastructure, said Karen Leuschner from the National Security Agency. She serves as National Center of Academic Excellence program director.

“Like all nations, the United States has a compelling interest in defending its vital national assets, as well as our core principles and values, and we are committed to defending against those who would attempt to impede our ability to do so.” Leuschner said. “Education is the key to promoting these ideals.”

To earn the designation, schools must develop significant partnerships with businesses and government agencies while offering courses that teach students to be computer information technology and cyber defense professionals. Schools must also provide community service while meeting certain security standards on campus, such as employee training and offering secure business transactions.

While the designation targets Jackson State’s computer information technology program, it impacts all facets of campus. For more information, visit the school’s Cyber Security Center website at JSCC.edu/cybercenter.

Jackson State Community College provides accessible learning opportunities that enhance the lives of individuals, strengthen the workforce and empower the diverse communities of West Tennessee. The institution offers traditional and contemporary associate degrees, certificates, continuing education and enrichment, and college-readiness programs. The Rockabilly Gran Prix bicycle race returns for its fifth year June 17 – 18, 2017 in Jackson, TN. The race weekend, featuring three races; The Bicycle City Rockabilly Road Race, the Rockabilly Time Trial, and the Hub City Bicycle-GIANT Downtown Criterium, attracts over 300 racers from all over the country to the city of Jackson and Madison County. The racers will vie for over $12,000 in prizes and the race benefits YoungLife of Jackson.

The Bicycle City Rockabilly Road race is this Saturday morning at Trinity Christian Academy and features Tour-de-France style racing over distances from 11 for the juniors to 66 miles for the Pros. Starting at 8:00am Saturday afternoon features the Rockabilly Time Trial, also from TCA. This race is a five mile speed fest pitting each rider against the clock.

Starting at 5:00pm on Sunday, the race moves to the beautiful Jackson Walk/Lift Wellness Center area for the Hub City Bicycle-GIANT Downtown Criterium. Racing over short, fast laps the Criterium offers the best views for spectators! The Doublewides will be playing live rockabilly music and just before the Pros race at 2:30, The Lift Wellness Center will hold the Rockabilly Rascals kids’ races. In a first for the race, EPlus channel 6 will be broadcasting live from 12:00-4:00pm! Racing Sunday goes from 8:00am-4:00pm.

The event is put on by the Marx-Bensdorf/BPC Cycling Team and the Lift Wellness Center Cycling Team. To learn more visit:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RockabillyGranPrixJacksonTn/
Website https://www.rockabillygranprix.com/

Whether it’s an annual event or one of our great live music venues, experience what could only be “Made in Tennessee” found halfway between Memphis and Nashville in the heart of the Americana Music Triangle!

Visit JacksonTN to connect with what is happening in Jackson and West Tennessee. Connect socially on Facebook and Twitter or call 731-425-8333. Looking for live music this weekend? Jackson and West Tennessee are home to numerous live music venues and special events over the June 15th weekend. Thanks to our friend Matt Barnacastle and the Jackson Area Music Society for sharing the weekend's live music events!

Thursday June 15th • Skyelor Anderson & Colton Parker, JYP (Farmers Market), 11:30am • Karaoke Night, South Street Comedy Club, 5:30pm • Larry Parish, Libation Station (Union City), 5:30pm • BoomerNation, Arts in the Alley (Henderson), 6:00pm • Jackson Plectral Society, Casey Jones Village, 6:30pm • The Southern Fire Band Elks Lodge, 7:00pm • Karaoke Night, West Alley BBQ, 7:30pm • Kimberlie Helton, Redbones, 8:00pm • Open Mic w/ The Skeleton Krew, Cody’s Saloon, 8:00pm • Open Mic Night w/ David Michael Thomas, The Tap, 9:00pm

Friday June 16th • Phoebe Scott & Joe Kyle, Fox on Friday (downtown), 11:30am • Kyle Wilson, The Breakers Marina (Buchanan), 6:00pm • Southern Fire Band, International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame, 7:00pm • Ben Jessie & The Mechanix, Mulligans, 7:00pm • Billy Weir, West TN Delta Heritage Center (Brownsville), 7:00pm • Whiskey Redemption, Redbones, 8:00pm • Freedom, The Naked Turtle, 8:00pm • Six Down Sunday & Seeking Seven, Ricochet Bar, 8:00pm • Bryan Lee Moffitt, Blues Landing (Buchanan), 8:00pm • John McDaniel, The Breakers Marina (Buchanan), 9:00p, • Blair & Madison, The Downtown Tavern, 10:00pm

Saturday June 17th • Summer Solstice Music Festival, Parkers Crossroads City Park, 11am-10pm • Kimberlie Helton, Brenda’s Kitchen (Henderson), 11:00am • Davis Nic w/ River Dan, The Breakers Marina (Buchanan), 2:00pm • Larry Gatlin, The Dixie (Huntingdon), 2:00pm • Ken Hicks & The Testimony Quartet, Downtown Summer Nights (Decaturville), 4:00pm • Kinslee Melhorn, Downtown Summer Nights (Decaturville), 6:00pm • Scott Myatt & Steve Short, Century Farm Winery, 7:00pm • Beyond Blame, Elks Lodge 192, 7:00pm • One Less Reason, Empire City, Anne Cline, & Oscar P Polite Jerk, The Bassmnt, 7:00pm • Divided We Stand, Evince, & Six Down Sunday, The Naked Turtle, 7:00pm • Sweet Tea Jubilee, Redbones, 8:00pm • Krooked Jester, Ricochet Bar, 8:00pm • Bryan Moffitt, The Tap, 8:00pm • Josh Smith, Mulligans, 9:00pm • One Nyte Stand, Twin Oaks Sports Bar, 9:00pm • Allen Warren Band, Pine Ridge Club (Medon), 9:00pm • Kimberlie Helton Band, Fisherdale Dock (Decaturville), 9:00pm • The Old Spirits, The Downtown Tavern, 10:00pm

Whether it’s an annual event or one of our great live music venues, experience the music which could only be "Made in Tennessee" found halfway between Memphis and Nashville in the heart of the Americana Music Triangle! Visit JacksonTN to connect with what is happening in Jackson and West Tennessee. Connect socially on Facebook and Twitter or call 731.425.8333.

August 2017 News

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April 2017 Video News

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