George W. Jackson (developer)

Last updated
George W. Jackson
Born(1952-12-11)December 11, 1952
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Alma mater Oakland University
Central Michigan University
OccupationReal estate developer
Children3

George W. Jackson (born January 1, 1953) is an American real estate developer. From 2002 to 2014, he served as President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp (DEGC), a non-profit organization which offers, financial, technical, and development assistance in Michigan. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Jackson was born in 1952 in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Cooley High School. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in human resource development from Oakland University and a master's degree in business management from Central Michigan University. [2]

Jackson worked in personnel and human resources with the U.S. Navy and has been on the faculty of Lawrence Technological University. [3]

Career

He began his career with DTE as a personnel analyst and left as Director of Marketing and Economic Development. [4] During his tenure, DTE's Energy Economic Development Department gained national recognition and received Site Selection Magazine's Utility Economic Development Award. [5]

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC)

In February 2002, Jackson began his career at the DEGC as the Interim President and was elected President & CEO in April, 2002. Under Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Mayor Dave Bing. [6]

During his tenure at the DEGC, Jackson also served as the professional & administrative staff for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA), Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC), Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA), and Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA). Jackson is the past chairman and a current board member of the NextEnergy Corp.; [7] chairman of the board of the Eastern Market Corporation; chairman for the Greater Detroit Foreign Trade Zone; on the executive committee of the Downtown Partnership; and is the steering committee chair of Detroit Future City. [8]

Post-DEGC work

After his retirement, Jackson began his own real estate consulting firm, [28] Ventra Group, where he currently acts as President & CEO. [29]

Since retiring from the DEGC, Jackson has worked as a development consultant for residential projects in District Detroit [30] and is developing a vacant Eastern Market property, located at 3500 Riopelle Street. The development will exists as a new food business hub and will contain a brewery, restaurants, and retail as well as food processing, preservation, storage, and production facilities. [31]

Personal life

Jackson is the single father of three sons. [32]

Awards and accolades

Jackson has won several awards for his work in the Detroit area. In 2006, the city magazine Hour Detroit named Jackson "Detroiter of the Year". [33] In 2007, Oakland County's economic initiative Automation Alley awarded him the "CEO of the Year". [34]
In 2009, the Friends School in Detroit gave him a "Revitalization of the City Award". [35] In 2016, the publishing company Crain's Detroit Business listed him in its "50 Names to Know: Real Estate" article. [36]

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References

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  3. "Board". Detroit Free Trade Zone. 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
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  31. Houck, Brenna (July 27, 2017). "City Council Approves Sale of Eastern Market Building Tapped for Brewery, Food Accelerator". Eater Detroit. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
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