Jackson pushes health care corridor

Jackson has created the first step toward establishing a health care corridor in the city in an effort to drive economic development around the area’s medical facilities.

The Jackson City Council has approved an agreement to create a health care corridor commission to plan and try to bring a corridor to fruition, including seeking funding.

The goal would be to create a corridor from I-55 North to I-220 with Woodrow Wilson Avenue, bordered on the north by Lakeland Drive and on the south by Fortification Street, as the primary link to hospitals and other medical facilities while creating opportunities for businesses to locate near the medical facilities.

The corridor also would be designed to attract hotels, shops, restaurants and nightlife, and includes a $45 million Translational Research Center in the research district on the campus of the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

“The University of Mississippi Medical Center continues to be a strong supporter of the development of a health care corridor from I-55 to I-220,” spokeswoman Ruth Cummins said. “The medical center is one of many players in this initiative and is committed to playing an active role in the corridor’s success.”

The six member commission will have a representative from the city, Hinds County, the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, Jackson State University and UMMC. One appointed person would have a non-voting role on the commission.

The push for a Jackson health care corridor would go along with Gov. Phil Bryant’s push for health care development zones statewide that could be home to companies making equipment or providing other services to hospitals and clinics.

In 2012, the Mississippi Legislature passed the Mississippi Health Care Industry Zone Act that provides tax incentives for certain companies locating in one of the zones.

Ward 6 Councilman Tyrone Hendrix said one of the city’s greatest assets is its healthcare industry.

“We’re already behind the eight ball on a healthcare corridor here in the city of Jackson,when you look at Houston (TX) and their health care corridor,” Hendrix said. “It’s fantastic and is an economic driver. When you go to Pittsburgh, you see what their corridor has done. Also, you go to Flowood and see the corridor they are quietly building.”

The Houston Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce said the corridor is one of the most vibrant and exciting in Houston, and is home to the world-famous Texas Medical Center, the largest hospital in the country, and the renowned Rice University. Both of these institutions are next to Hermann Park and the Museum District. The new Metro Light Rail line connects this area to Reliant Center to the south and downtown Houston to the north.

The Texas Medical Center, covering more than 700 acres, accommodates about five million patient visits a year. Patients come from Houston and all over the world for the excellent medical care and the cutting-edge research. With a combined budget of $4.6 billion for its member institutions, the center has an $11.5 billion indirect impact on Houston’s economy. Nearly 80,000 jobs are tied to the area around Texas Medical Center and Rice Village, according to the chamber.

Hendrix said Jackson has some of the premiere medical facilities in the Southeast and hopes the city can use that for economic development.

Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes said he supports the concept of a health care corridor as long as it doesn’t disrupt the lives of the poor in the area.

One thing he sees as a plus is that people in need of certain medical care could be flown into Hawkins Field and transported to UMC, which could save lives, said Stokes, who praised the hospital.

Ward 4 Councilman De’Keither Stamps said he was concerned that Merit Heath Central Hospital, the former Central Mississippi Medical Center in south Jackson would be left out of the corridor plans.

City Council President Melvin Priester Jr. said he can appreciate Stamps’ concern, but understands the health care corridor would be a certain area and not the entire city.

Contact Jimmie E. Gates at (601) 961-7212 or jgates@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @jgatesnews On Twitter.