Jackson Medical Mall

ISSUE AREA: JOBS

City: Jackson, MS
Healthcare - Public/Private Partnerships - Economic Development

Contact:
Lori Greer
Deputy Director
Jackson Medical Mall
350 West Woodrow Wilson Drive
Jackson, MS 39213
(601) 982-8467

Date Published: October 2006

Jackson’s Medical Mall is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary health care complex serving Jackson’s urban poor. Dr. Aaron Shirley, a local midtown resident and the former project director for Mississippi’s largest community health center, was the visionary for the project. The site had formerly been Jackson’s first shopping mall, but had been largely abandoned when other shopping areas opened in various parts of the Jackson metropolitan area. The failure of the shopping mall brought with it the decline of the surrounding midtown area. The median family income of the midtown area was less than $17,000, its poverty rate was at 41%, and over 16% of residents were unemployed. Dr. Shirley’s vision was to convert the mall into a state- of-the-art medical facility that would provide quality health care to those in need, that would at the same time serve as an anchor to bring new life to the midtown area.

Dr. Shirley appealed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (the state’s only medical school and research center), Tougaloo College, and Jackson State University to help develop the project. Dr. Shirley began the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation together with representatives from these organizations in 1995. The goals of the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation were five-fold: to promote greater access to cost-effective, high-quality health care for central Mississippi; to facilitate integration of human service delivery with health care delivery; to stimulate economic and community development in the area surrounding the mall; to utilize health care delivery activities to enhance educational opportunities; and to build financial strength of the foundation to ensure future reinvestment in the community.

Jackson Medical Mall Foundation purchased the mall for $2.7 million with loans backed by the U. of Mississippi Medical Center. Construction began in 1996, with the help of a $23 million dollar interim construction loan. During renovation and construction of the facility, the Medical Mall Foundation hired many small and disadvantaged contractors, including many minority subcontractors and vendors; 45% of all subcontracts went to minority firms and vendors. Minority and woman-owned businesses occupy the majority of the retail facilities in the building.

In 1997, the Medical Mall transitioned into its permanent financing with a tax-free $25.2 million Jackson Redevelopment Authority bond issue, a $650,000 Hinds County bond issue, and a $500,000 pledge from the City of Jackson towards reconstruction of the mall parking lot. The first retail tenant opened in January of 1997, and the first health care tenant, the UMC Children’s Clinic, opened in June 1997.

Among the health care and social services located in the Medical Mall are the Hinds County Health Department Clinic, numerous UMC specialty clinics, including clinics for cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology, and oncology, and the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program. The Jackson Medical Mall also incorporates healthcare education into its facilities; classes for the University of Mississippi’s Doctor of Pharmacy program, as well as UMC’s School of Nursing, have been held at the Mall. This unique arrangement allows interaction with the community, clinics, and social service providers.

The mall functions as a nonprofit organization, and is run by a board of five directors. A Community Advisor Board made up of individuals from the local neighborhood associations, area businesses, churches and schools help the Foundation to identify and address areas seeking growth and renewal. The Jackson Medical Mall is the only facility of its kind in the nation that provides quality health care, human services, and retail.

In addition to being a healthcare, social services, and retail facility, the Medical Mall has also become a community meeting place. The facility includes a Community Meeting Room, Center Stage, and Mall Common Area where many community events, ranging from general meetings, concerts and plays occur. One notable event was a community wide block party to celebrate National Night Out, a national crime and drug prevention event that encourages community spirit and police-community partnerships.

Resources:

www.jacksonmedicalmall.org
www.umc.edu/healthcare/medical_mall.html