Jackson Economic Development Official Receives State Award
Mandy White earns top honors for securing $1.4 billion in regional capital investment for Jackson and Madison County.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in People
Mandy White, chief economic development officer for the Greater Jackson Chamber, received the Fred H. Harris Professional of the Year Award from the Tennessee Economic Development Council. The recognition acknowledges her role in securing $1.4 billion in regional capital investments.
Why it matters
White’s selection highlights the increasing importance of regional economic development strategies in securing large-scale industrial projects. Her approach involves maintaining long-term institutional relationships with international stakeholders to drive local growth.
Mandy White has secured $1.4 billion in capital investment across Jackson and Madison County over a 27-year tenure. This total includes the $425 million Georgia-Pacific Dixie plant, which officially opened in October 2024.
The players
Mandy White
Chief economic development officer for the Greater Jackson Chamber with 27 years of experience.
Greater Jackson Chamber
Business organization responsible for regional economic growth and industry recruitment in Jackson.
Tennessee Economic Development Council
Statewide professional organization that oversees economic development standards and workforce recognition.
Georgia-Pacific
Major pulp and paper manufacturer that serves as a key industrial investor in the region.
The details
White’s strategy focuses on cultivating relationships with Japanese industry leaders and government officials to attract manufacturing investment. The award committee selected White based on her track record of converting these diplomatic connections into tangible local development projects, such as the major plant expansion completed in 2024.
Timeline
1996: Fred H. Harris Professional of the Year Award established.
October 2024: Georgia-Pacific Dixie plant officially opened.
October 29, 2026: Mandy White received the professional of the year award.
Market Landscape
The Fred H. Harris Professional of the Year Award has been given annually since 1996 to recognize leaders driving state-level economic results. White’s recognition follows the established tradition of honoring those who successfully navigate long-term international recruitment strategies.
Operators in the region should watch how the chamber prioritizes international partnerships as a bellwether for potential future industrial growth. Monitoring the success of past major projects can provide insight into which business sectors the region is currently targeting for development.
The takeaway
The recognition of long-term relationship building underscores that securing major investment often requires a multi-decade approach to institutional networking. Operators should evaluate their own long-term business development cycles against the multi-year strategies used in large-scale industrial recruitment.
Further reading
Learn more about local leadership trends in our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBBJ TV.
