Inter-city visits create an opportunity for West Tennessee leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue and generate innovative ideas from peer cities. Jackson, Tenn. Oct. 31, 2022 - Greenville, S.C., has earned scores of accolades lately and is often named a “must-see destination.” But before it staged its great comeback, this city of 72,000 struggled with significant blight and poverty in its downtown. Yet today, the city is a bustling center for tourism and is also attracting new residents at a record pace. To better prepare for the growth associated with BlueOval City, the Jackson Chamber organized a delegation of 33 members from Jackson and West Tennessee, representing local public and private entities. The group recently spent three days touring the city and surrounding areas to get a look behind Greenville’s success. During the visit, the group toured BMW, visited the Center for Manufacturing Innovation, toured downtown and met with Greer’s mayor, Greenville’s mayor, as well as local economic development, affordable housing and parks representatives. “The City of Greenville is somewhat similar to Jackson in terms of its population size, so it was very interesting to see the challenges they overcame and the approaches they took in revitalizing their downtown,” said Kyle Spurgeon, president and CEO of the Jackson Chamber. Much of the city’s success can also be attributed to its collaboration with major employers in the region, such as BMW Group and Clemson and Furman universities and public-private partnerships fueling its revitalization and growth. The challenge the city faces now is to ensure it remains affordable and desirable for those who live and work there and to recognize the impact of gentrification on the community. Greenville is working to preserve its existing affordable units while also acquiring property to support the production of new workforce housing. “Much of what we learned was the need for vision, foresight and patience,” said Jake Bynum, Weakley County Mayor. “We need to think about where we want our individual communities and West Tennessee to be in 10-20 years.” Alex Reed, City of Jackson Alyson Fite, Nest Realty Jackson Beth Ann Simpson, Jackson Downtown Development Beth Koffman, West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation Claire Pierson, City of Jackson Darrell King, West Tennessee Healthcare Emily Taylor Haley Wildridge, West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation Jackie Taylor, West Tennessee Healthcare Jeff Blankenship, West Tennessee Healthcare Jill Taylor, Master Medical Equipment Joe Barker, Southwest Tennessee Development District Joey Hale, Town & Country Realtors Kathy Watts, Horne Katie Hale, Town & Country Realtors Kyle Spurgeon, Jackson Chamber Lauren Massey Lindsay Dawkins, Jackson Chamber Matt Marshall, United Way Mayor AJ Massey, Madison County Mayor Jake Bynum, Weakley County Melissa Spurgeon, Jackson Madison-County School System Monica Heath, McKenzie Chamber Monique Merriweather, Brownsville Chamber Olivia Abernathy, United Way Paul Taylor, Gary A. Taylor Investment Company Roger Smith, Thompson & Smith Ryan Porter, Jackson Chamber Tina Prescott, West Tennessee Healthcare Tonia Howell, Arlington Chamber Tony Black, City of Jackson Vanessa Patrick, West Tennessee Healthcare Vicki Bunch, Jackson Chamber Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum has welcomed another exhibit, featuring the DeLorean time machine from the 1985 film, Back to the Future. The exhibit, suspended 25 ft. in the air and lit up at night, welcomes people to Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum.     The addition of the DeLorean comes in time to celebrate “Back to the Future Day” which occurs on October 21st (as Marty McFly visits October 21, 2015 in the movie). Since the date holds such significance to the movie, the new exhibit at Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum seeks to display a unique attraction in honor of the hit film. “I ended up with an extra DeLorean that needed a lot of work and wondered what I could do with it,” said Rusty Robinson, Owner and Operator of Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum. “In the tradition of old school roadside attractions and to celebrate “Back to the Future Day”, I thought ‘Why not make a flying DeLorean and put it on the roof?’.” After Rusty came up with the idea, his son-in-law, Jacob Barham, engineered and welded the frame and Frank Joey and Rushing Crane Service helped with suspending the DeLorean above the building.     Opened in 2010, Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum also displays other significant movie cars such as the Jeep Wrangler from Jurassic Park, the Fast and Furious eclipse, the Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters, the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo, along with many other cars featured in a variety of iconic films. The museum features approximately 50 vehicles, many originals and replicas from various films and T.V. shows.     Located at 323 Hollywood Dr. Jackson, TN 38301, the museum is open to the public on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Private tours for groups can also be arranged by calling 731-267-5881. Admission is $10.00 and $5.00 for kids under 12. Kids under five receive free admission. For more information on Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum, visit https://www.rustystvandmoviecars.com/ or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rustystvandmoviecarmuseum/. Jackson: Hidden Tracks and Visit Jackson, TN are compiling a list of local #JacksonTN and West TN artists with merchandise available for Merch Day 2022 (November 10). If you're an artist or member of a band, let us know how the community can support you by filling out this form! Please help us spread the word! https://lnkd.in/gpBbC9-f