UJRO presents 2025 Uptown Jackson plans at annual meeting

The board members and staff of Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization (UJRO) presented their 2024 achievements and 2025 goals to supporters at their annual meeting Wednesday, Jan. 22.

More than 50 attendees packed Jackson Civic Center that evening for the occasion. Program coordinator Erin Ressler, events coordinator Jess Girard and members of the UJRO board of directors let them know what their different committees have in store for 2025.

Beyond hearing their reports, attendees also heard from UJRO’s new executive director, Kaci Hubbard. Hubbard was born in Jackson and has lived there most of her life. She is a Southeast Missouri State University graduate and has worked for nearly a decade at Mercy Southeast.

“While I enjoyed all my time in health care, I was kind of feeling a pull to do something more community oriented where I’d have a larger impact on the place I lived,” she said.

Hubbard started her new position Jan. 16.

With her new role, UJRO has grown from one staff member to three in the last year, transitioning from volunteers primarily running the organization to staff running things. UJRO still relies on volunteers, however, and among its goals is to create an incentive program for them.

“This organization wouldn’t be where it is today without all of our volunteers, so we’re very thankful for them,” Ressler said. “… We wanted to create an incentive program so you would get something as a thank you from (the) organization to you just for doing what you do.”

Main Street programs

UJRO works under Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC), which is itself part of Main Street America. The group helps downtown — or uptown — economic development organizations work together and share ideas.

UJRO board members said working closer with MMSC was one of their 2025 goals. UJRO uses four of MMSC’s leading points as committee assignments: organization, economic vitality, design and promotions.

On an organizational level, the group planned to head out into the community to make more partnerships with local businesses. In terms of economic vitality, the board aimed to increase the UJRO social media presence and expand the Lunch and Learn events they started last year.

From a design standpoint, the board expressed interest in an art expo, an uptown mural and façade grant improvements.

“We actually have funds now to be able to do big projects like this that help the building owners up there,” Ressler said.

They also plan to install signage to help visitors find their way around the uptown area, both to businesses and historical sites.

The promotions committee aimed to partner with Cruisin’ Uptown Jackson for family-friendly activities and to build upon the 2024 Scarecrow Contest, another new endeavor launched last year.

Events and suggestions

​Inclement weather delayed or canceled some of its outdoor events in 2024, so for 2025, UJRO made sure to include rain dates. It plans to host an Uptown Art Expo on Saturday, March 1; Springfest on Friday, April 4; Jackson in Bloom on Saturday, April 12; a Farm to Table meal Thursday, Sept. 11; Oktoberfest on Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 4; and a Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Attendees also posited their own suggestions for future endeavors, such as a passport to encourage uptown shopping and a snow machine for the annual Christmas parade.

UJRO also informed supporters about opportunities for Missouri Main Street Connection trainings. These are held four times per year and shift topics and locations each time.

“Those are open to any community members who feel like the topic is a good fit for them or a good fit for their business,” Ressler said.