Momentum Jonesboro Campaign Cites Gains In Health Care, Manufacturing

Mark Young

Jonesboro Unlimited, a nonprofit economic development partnership, says a five-year strategic plan to create high-paying jobs is showing results.

The group announced this month that the Momentum Jonesboro campaign had led to more than 1,200 new full-time jobs in five targeted industries: agriculture, health care, logistics, manufacturing and professional services.

Launched last year, Momentum Jonesboro aims to establish 5,153 new jobs by the end of 2021, including 2,500 jobs that pay at least $42,000 per year or more, and 2,600 indirect jobs within the targeted sectors.

“The creation of over 1,200 new, high-paying jobs in our five target industries in the first year of our strategic plan is very encouraging,” Jonesboro Unlimited President Mark Young said. “It represents a strong start to the ambitious goal we set in 2016. The creation of these new jobs shows Jonesboro’s economic base continues to thrive.”

Though Jonesboro’s unemployment rate ended 2017 at 3 percent, the median household income of $41,688 is more than 25 percent below the national average. It also sits well below the state average, according to 2015 U.S. Census data. 

With more than 23 percent of residents living at or below the federal poverty line, developing a skilled talent pipeline and marketing the area as a destination for target industries have been key strategies for improving local incomes.

Results from the first year of Momentum Jonesboro were cited in Jonesboro Unlimited’s “Annual Inventory of New and Expanded Industries.” More than 100 companies contributed to the job gains. The survey also cited capital investment spending by local employers, which it said topped $107 million last year.

The health care and manufacturing sectors saw the largest job gains. The health care sector, which includes the city’s largest employer, St. Bernards Healthcare, saw an increase of 597 new jobs and $36.27 million in capital investments. Manufacturing added 549 jobs, and the sector reported capital investments of $52.82 million.

Professional services accounted for 64 new jobs and $9.39 million in reinvestment funds, while the logistics sector grew by 34 positions and $2.25 million in capital investments. The city’s agriculture industry added 24 jobs and made $7.08 million in capital investments, according to the report.

In April, Jonesboro Unlimited will conduct its first community leadership visit to Greenville, South Carolina, a city that transformed itself through economic and cultural investments. The organization also plans to bring in consultants to continue aggressive marketing efforts and attend trade shows for target industries. 

Jonesboro Unlimited was formed in 1986 to promote economic development in Jonesboro and the surrounding area. The nonprofit is part of the Jonesboro Economic Development Corporation and includes about 100 local businesses partners.