🏆️ Let’s Compare: West Tennessee vs. Middle Tennessee vs. East Tennessee 🏆️

Happy Sunday From The HubCity Newsletter!

We wanted this week's newsletter to help people get a better understanding of the current position that Jackson is in on a state level!

In Today’s “HubCity Newsletter”: 

• West Tennessee: Economic Strengths and Challenges 🚛

• Middle Tennessee: Booming Economy and Rapid Growth 💰️ 

• East Tennessee: Manufacturing and Innovation 🏭️

• Memphis's Economic Decline and Its Impact on Jackson 📉 

• Weekly Events For The Kids 🛝

• Weekly Events For The Whole Family 🎡 

Read Time: 3 - 5 Minutes

Diving Right In!

Tennessee, a state known for its vibrant southern culture, diverse landscapes, and growing economy, is divided into three distinct regions: West, Middle, and East Tennessee. Each region has its own economic strengths, challenges, and future outlooks, shaped by unique historical and cultural contexts.

• Income

• Cost Of Living

• Employment Opportunities

  AND

• Potential Outcomes 

Will be some of the things we talk about that factor into the overall picture in each region. This is a complicated subject and if we did a full deep this would turn into a novel! 🤣 

🚛 West Tennessee: Economic Strengths and Challenges 🚛

Key Cities: Memphis, Jackson, Dyersburg

Median Income: Around $47,000

Cost of Living: Lower than the national average, though Memphis has slightly higher housing costs compared to smaller cities like Jackson.

Employment Opportunities:
West Tennessee has historically been an industrial and logistics hub. Memphis, the largest city in the region, is home to FedEx, a global shipping giant, as well as large distribution centers for companies like Nike and AutoZone. Agriculture, including cotton and soybeans, also plays a major role in the rural areas surrounding Jackson and Dyersburg.

However, Memphis has been experiencing an economic decline, not over the past few years but the last few decades. This has led to higher unemployment rates and a shrinking middle class. This decline has negatively impacted surrounding cities like Jackson.

One of the best metaphors for this is that “Memphis Is On Fire & Jackson Is Getting The Secondhand Smoke!”

As Memphis struggles with high crime rates and a shrinking tax base, businesses and residents have been slowly migrating elsewhere, weakening the region's overall economy.

Jackson, positioned between Memphis and Nashville, feels the brunt of these challenges. While Jackson has its own industries, some of its residents commute to Memphis for work given the higher paying jobs.

Future Outlook🔮 
Since West Tennessee does not have any other large cities that are even close to the size of Memphis, Jackson’s future will largely depend on Memphis's ability to reverse its economic decline.

Revitalization efforts, such as investment in tech and infrastructure, could help the region recover. Meanwhile, Jackson is trying to play its best possible hand and reduce its reliance on Memphis to build a more independent local economy.

However, without a resurgence in Memphis, Jackson may struggle to grow at the same pace as cities in Middle or East Tennessee.

💰️ Middle Tennessee: Booming Economy and Rapid Growth 💰️

Key Cities: Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Clarksville

Median Income: Around $63,000

Cost of Living: Rising rapidly due to Nashville's growth, especially in housing, though smaller cities like Murfreesboro and Clarksville offer more affordable living options.

Employment Opportunities:
Middle Tennessee, especially Nashville, is the state’s economic powerhouse. Known as “Music City,” Nashville’s entertainment industry, led by country music, generates billions in revenue every year. However, the city's economy extends far beyond music. Healthcare and technology are growing industries, with major companies like HCA Healthcare, Asurion, and Amazon setting up headquarters or large operations in the region.

Nashville’s rapid population growth has also spurred a booming construction industry, and unemployment in the region remains consistently below the national average. Surrounding cities like Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Clarksville are also benefiting from Nashville’s growth, becoming attractive options for those seeking a lower cost of living while still being close to employment opportunities.

Future Outlook🔮
Middle Tennessee's future looks bright. Nashville is expected to continue its rapid growth, attracting more businesses and residents. As housing costs rise in Nashville proper, suburban cities like Murfreesboro and Franklin will likely see continued expansion.

The challenge for Middle Tennessee will be managing its growth in a sustainable way, ensuring that

• Infrastructure

• Schools

  AND

• Healthcare Systems

can keep up with the growing population.

🏭️ East Tennessee: Manufacturing and Innovation 🏭️

Key Cities: Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City, Oak Ridge

Median Income: Around $52,000

Cost of Living: Low, even in larger cities like Knoxville and Chattanooga, making East Tennessee one of the most affordable regions in the state.

Employment Opportunities:
East Tennessee is home to a strong manufacturing base. Chattanooga is known as a manufacturing and logistics hub, with companies like Volkswagen and Amazon employing thousands of workers. Knoxville benefits from being a college town (home to the University of Tennessee) and has a diversified economy that includes healthcare, education, and retail.

The region is also home to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a key player in energy research and innovation, bringing high-skilled, well-paying jobs to the area. The region’s lower cost of living and focus on innovation have helped it maintain steady growth, even if it lacks the explosive boom seen in Middle Tennessee.

Future Outlook🔮
East Tennessee’s future looks solid. As manufacturing shifts toward automation and new technologies, cities like Chattanooga and Knoxville are well-positioned to benefit. The region's combination of affordable living, natural beauty, and steady job creation will likely continue attracting new residents. However, East Tennessee will need to invest in education and infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability.

While West Tennessee is still growing, cities in East Tennessee & Middle Tennessee are leading the state!

📉 Memphis's Economic Decline and Its Impact on Jackson 📉

Memphis's ongoing economic decline has far-reaching consequences for West Tennessee, especially for smaller cities like Jackson. Over the past few decades, Memphis has faced numerous challenges, including high crime rates, failing public schools, and the departure of businesses.

In August of this year WK Kelloggs announced that they would be downsizing in Memphis! Hino Motors made a similar announcement in June of this year and several small corporations have done the same. These issues have caused population loss and declining tax revenues, which in turn limit the city's ability to invest in infrastructure and public services.

Jackson has been trying to diversify its economy to mitigate the impact of Memphis’s decline. With projects like the Crossings at Exum, Amazon Last Mile Facility, Great Wolf Lodge, Upgrading The Local Airport, and many other projects as well as investments in local infrastructure, Jackson hopes to become less reliant on Memphis.

Tennessee’s three regions—West, Middle, and East—each have unique economic strengths and challenges. Middle Tennessee is thriving, while East Tennessee enjoys steady growth. West Tennessee, however, is grappling with Memphis’s decline, which has implications for cities like Jackson.

Jackson is currently playing one of it’s best possible hands by getting as many new industries, restaurants, companies and projects as possible to mitigate the fallout of Memphis’s continued decline.

We see posts all the time about why Jackson is doing certain things and while we agree that many of the decisions are not perfect and could be done better, most people just want to have a better understanding of why they are done.

So hopefully this sheds a bit of light on that matter and as always here is a brief poll followed by your curated list of events for next week! ❤️

Monday, September 23rd

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Monday, September 23rd
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

Story Time 📖
Date: Monday, September 23rd
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free

Tuesday, September 24th

Forward! To The Moon! 🔭
Date: Tuesday, September 24th 
Time: 5:30PM - 6:30PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

Story Time Station 📖
Date: Tuesday, September 24th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

Wednesday, September 25th

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Wednesday, September 25th
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

Thursday, September 26th

Story Time Station 📖
Date: Thursday, September 26th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free 

Coding Club (Meet Fellow Programmers)
Date: Thursday, September 26th
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free
Ages: 9 Years Old & Up

Friday, September 27th

24th Annual Doodle Soup Days 🥣
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Bradford City Park
Price: $10 Parking Fee
Additional Details: Join Us As We Celebrate Another Year Of Our Annual Doodle Soup Days! There Will Be Local Crafters, Vendors, Kids Rides & Jumpers, A Car Show, Our World Famous Doodle Soup & So Much More!

Forward! To The Moon! 🔭
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 1:30PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

Saturday, September 28th

Fall Game Festival ♟️
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: 33 Carriage House Dr
Price: Free
Presented By: Canada’s Collectible Games
Additional Details: Come Out For An Event Like No Other!  There Will Be Giant Catan, Giant Chess, Giant Checkers, Food Trucks, Content Creators, Contests, Prizes & So Much More!

Open Play Toddler Hangout 🚼
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 10:00 AM - 11: 30 AM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free

Kids' Saturday Morning Planetarium Show: TimeSpace 🔭
Date: Saturday, September 28th 
Time: 9:30PM - 10:15PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

Beech Bluff Day Festival 🎉
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Location: Beech Bluff Recreation Center
Price: Free Entry (Food & Merchandise Prices Vary)
Additional Details: Come Out For A Parade, Local Vendors & Food Trucks, 3v3 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Plenty Of Kids Events & More!

Monday, September 23rd

Story Time 📖
Date: Monday, September 23rd
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free

Bingo & Brownies 🟫
Date: Monday, September 23rd
Time: 6:00PM - 7:30PM
Location: Beech Bluff Recreation Center
Price: Entry for Bingo (Free) Brownies & Drink $3

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Monday, September 23rd
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

Tuesday, September 24th

Forward! To The Moon! 🔭
Date: Tuesday, September 24th 
Time: 5:30PM - 6:30PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

Taco Tuesday Teen Book Club 🌮
Date: Tuesday, September 24th
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: Main Library
Price: Free
Ages: 13 - 18 Years Old
Additional Details: Teens Come Out & Converse With Other Book Lovers While Enjoying Tacos!

Story Time Station 📖
Date: Tuesday, September 24th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

Wednesday, September 25th

Keto Meal Planning Class🍖
Date: Wednesday, September 25th
Time: 11:30 PM - 12:30 PM
Location: Westwood Community Center
Price: Free
Additional Details: Get Ready To Learn Recipes From A Certified Instructor & Author In Our Free Keto Planning Class!

24th Annual Doodle Soup Days 🥣 (Youth Night)
Date: Wednesday, September 25th
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Bradford City Park
Ages: 6th - 12th Grade
Price: $10 Parking Fee 

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Wednesday, September 25th
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

Thursday, September 26th

Rock & Roll Corn Hole Tournament 🎉
Date: Thursday, September 26th
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: West Tennessee Farmers Market
Price: More Details
Presented By: Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)

Story Time Station 📖
Date: Thursday, September 26th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free 

Hub City Film Festival 🎞️
Date: Thursday, September 26th
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Catbird Studio
Price: $10.00 - $60.00 (Click For More Details)
Additional Details: Are You Ready For A Day Of Indie Films By Talented Local Artists? Join Us For Our 2nd Year Of The Hub City Film Festival. 

Coding Club (Meet Fellow Programmers)
Date: Thursday, September 26th
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free
Ages: 9 Years Old & Up

Friday, September 27th

Food Truck Fridays
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: theLOCAL
Price: Prices Vary

Steel Magnolias Theatre Show (Girls Night Out)
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: 120 N Star Dr
Price: Click For Pricing
Additional Details: Fridays Girls Night Out Will Include: Appetizers, Dessert, Wine & Door Prizes.

Farm To Dinner Table (Date Night)
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Sunset Valley Farms
Price: Click For Pricing Details
Prepared By: Simply Blessed Catering
Additional Details: Prepare Your Palate For A Four Course Meal, Followed By Bouquet Crafting Session & Finally Select Your Own Pint Of Honey Infused With A Flavor Of Your Choice!

Forward! To The Moon! 🔭
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 1:30PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

Hub City Film Festival 🎞️
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Catbird Studio
Price: $10.00 - $60.00 (Click For More Details)
Additional Details: Are You Ready For A Day Of Indie Films By Talented Local Artists? Join Us For Our 2nd Year Of The Hub City Film Festival. 

Tennessee River BBQ Festival 🥩
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: 480 Main St
Price: Free Entry (Food & Merchandise Prices Vary)
Additional Details: Prepare Yourself For Plenty Of Food Vendors, Live Music & BBQ Samples From Some Of Our Contestants In The State BBQ Contest! 

24th Annual Doodle Soup Days 🥣
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Bradford City Park
Price: $10 Parking Fee
Additional Details: Join Us As We Celebrate Another Year Of Our Annual Doodle Soup Days! There Will Be Local Crafters, Vendors, Kids Rides & Jumpers, A Car Show, Our World Famous Doodle Soup & So Much More!

Manpower Hiring Event
Date: Friday, September 27th
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Manpower 

Saturday, September 28th

Fall Game Festival ♟️
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: 33 Carriage House Dr
Price: Free
Presented By: Canada’s Collectible Games
Additional Details: Come Out For An Event Like No Other!  There Will Be Giant Catan, Giant Chess, Giant Checkers, Food Trucks, Content Creators, Contests, Prizes & So Much More!

Steel Magnolias Theatre Show
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: 120 N Star Dr
Price: Click For Pricing

Open Play Toddler Hangout 🚼
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 10:00 AM - 11: 30 AM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free

24th Annual Doodle Soup Days 🥣
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 7:00 AM
Location: Bradford City Park
Price: $10 Parking Fee
Additional Details: Join Us As We Celebrate Another Year Of Our Annual Doodle Soup Days! There Will Be Local Crafters, Vendors, Kids Rides & Jumpers, A Car Show, Our World Famous Doodle Soup & So Much More!

44th Annual Starlight Symphony (Free Concert)🎵
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: First Presbyterian Church Of Jackson 
Price: Free
Additional Details: Bring Your Family, Friends, A Picnic Basket & Enjoy The Symphony Under The Stars!

Falcon Ridge Farm Fall Festival 🍂
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Location: Falcon Ridge Farm
Price: $12.95 - $14.95 (Children 2 & Under Free) 
Additional Details: There Will Be Tons Of Things To Do Here!  Tractor-Drawn Wagon Rides, Corn Maze, Hay Fort, Goat Walks, Petting Zoo, 2 Playgrounds & Plenty More!

Tennessee River BBQ Festival 🥩
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: 480 Main St
Price: Free Entry (Food & Merchandise Prices Vary)
Additional Details: Prepare Yourself For Plenty Of Food Vendors, Live Music & BBQ Samples From Some Of Our Contestants In The State BBQ Contest! 

Hub City Film Festival 🎞️
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Catbird Studio
Price: $10.00 - $60.00 (Click For More Details)
Additional Details: Are You Ready For A Day Of Indie Films By Talented Local Artists? Join Us For Our 2nd Year Of The Hub City Film Festival. 

Kids' Saturday Morning Planetarium Show: TimeSpace 🔭
Date: Saturday, September 28th 
Time: 9:30PM - 10:15PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

46th Annual Chester County BBQ Festival 🍖
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Location: Chester County CourtHouse
Price: Free Entry
Additional Details: Celebrate With Us & Enjoy Live Entertainment, Fried Treats, Kid Friendly Activities, BBQ, Vendors & Much More!

Beech Bluff Day Festival 🎉
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Location: Beech Bluff Recreation Center
Price: Free Entry (Food & Merchandise Prices Vary)
Additional Details: Come Out For A Parade, Local Vendors & Food Trucks, 3v3 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Plenty Of Kids Events & More!

Sunday, September 29th

Steel Magnolias Theatre Show
Date: Sunday, September 29th
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: 120 N Star Dr
Price: Click For Pricing

Falcon Ridge Farm Fall Festival 🍂
Date: Sunday, September 29th
Time: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Falcon Ridge Farm
Price: $12.95 - $14.95 (Children 2 & Under Free)
Additional Details: There Will Be Tons Of Things To Do Here!  Tractor-Drawn Wagon Rides, Corn Maze, Hay Fort, Goat Walks, Petting Zoo, 2 Playgrounds & Plenty More!