Entrepreneur? Get Your Start in this Tennessee City
Business-friendly climate provides exceptional support to help you thrive in Jackson, TN.
Despite the economic challenges caused by the pandemic, Jackson’s small businesses endured and thrived.>
They did so with the help of organizations such as the Jackson Chamber, Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) in partnership with Jackson State Community College and theCO coworking and makerspace, which provided crucial resources to help fledgling firms succeed.>
But this same stellar support can be found for any small business looking to get off the ground or striving to take that next step toward success. Find out what makes doing business in Jackson, TN a rewarding experience for entrepreneurs.
In This Article
Tool for the Trades
In the fall of 2020, the Jackson Chamber introduced SizeUp LBI, a free, web-based business intelligence tool that pulls data from a number of sources to help business owners get a clearer picture of how they compare to competitors. The data, which includes average salaries, cost effectiveness, supplier locations, health care costs and turnover rates for pecific industries, is specific to Jackson and West Tennessee.
“SizeUp is designed specifically to help small businesses and entrepreneurs and give them a leg up when competing with large corporations that have access to big data that small companies often just don’t have the resources, time or skills to attain,” says Hannah Mathis, economic development coordinator at the Jackson Chamber.
Centered on Success
The TSBDC offers business consulting and counseling, human resources assistance, accounting services and other financial training as well as paired mentorships.
“The center is wonderful. I used them when I was first getting started. They helped us with business plan development and financial planning, and they pointed us toward sources of capital,” says Dr. April Webster, co-owner of Loving Arms LLC, a home health agency in Jackson that offers 24-hour service to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “Even as the business has grown, they’ve kept in touch, offering guidance on processes, like government contracting.”
Since starting the business in 2012, Webster has grown Loving Arms to 200 employees.
In Good Company
Lisa Garner, executive director of theCO in Jackson, says West Tennessee’s small businesses are further helped by the collaboration between various business and economic development organizations.
“There are conversations happening all the time around how we can better serve our business community. That’s something that is unique to Jackson ̶ the fact that we are all working together to provide opportunities for our business owners,” she says.
TheCO provides its members with multiple work, meeting and makerspaces, hosts workshops and networking events and pairs startups with established business mentors.
Arrow Targets Achievement
One local business that is thriving is Arrow Athletics, which specializes in classes related to gymnastics, martial arts, dance, cheer and tumbling, adult fitness and ninja warrior.
In March 2020, during the Jackson Chamber’s Annual Celebration, the company was named the 2019 Emerging Business of the Year. This event is held to highlight businesses that have made an extra effort to achieve excellence through high standards, professional accomplishments and community contributions.
“The success of Arrow Athletics really boils down to the support of our community!” says owner Alissa Maness. “We are honored to serve Madison County, and our gym is thriving because of the 600+ wonderful families that are our members!”
Want to learn more about doing business in Jackson? Check out the latest edition of Livability Jackson, Tennessee.
