State honors Uptown Jackson group for roundabout campaign

A statewide not-for-profit organization, Missouri Main Street Connection, awarded the Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization top marketing honors for its work to keep customers coming uptown during the roundabout construction.

Jackson drivers are familiar with signs reminding, “You can still visit Uptown Jackson in a ‘round-a-bout-way.’” Many others have signed up for the Roundabout Rewards customer-loyalty program.

By using humor, the signs sought to stand a better chance of appealing to potential customers — even to residents who staunchly opposed the development.

And the rewards program was adopted by a large majority of uptown merchants.

Campaign activity was shown to increase traffic to the Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization website threefold, and business owners have credited the rewards program with helping them maintain foot traffic during what they feared would be an especially slow summer.

The increased momentum, the Missouri Main Street Connection said, has laid the groundwork to entice new customers to uptown even after construction is completed.

Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization president Bob Schooley said continued cooperation between businesses and his organization has made the roundabout process easier.

“What an honor it is to be recognized statewide for all the efforts Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization has put forth on the economic development of our beloved Historic District,” Schooley wrote in text message to the Southeast Missourian. “This award is ‘proof in the pudding’ of how amazing our volunteers really are!”

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627