Ellington

Fondren Plaza Opening
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. celebrates the opening tomorrow of Fondren Hall, a new events space and conference center on the site of an old Primo's restaurant. The opening marks the completion of Fondren Plaza, a shopping center redeveloped by Ali Jamila and his brothers, Khalid and Mohammed. Fondren Plaza also houses the Jamila's own business, Room By Room Furniture, along with the Jackson Police Department's Precinct 4 headquarters and other offices.

Renovations on the conference center wrapped up last month, and the events space already has bookings for November and December, Ali Jamila said.

The free opening celebration is tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. Fondren Plaza is located at 4330 North State St.

One University Place Ribbon-Cutting
The first phase of a major redevelopment project near Jackson State University gets a formal unveiling Friday, Oct. 15, at 9 a.m. One University Place, a four-story, mixed-use building, opened to apartment residents in mid-September. The $18 million building is located at Lynch and Dalton streets, directly across from the JSU student center. JSU's Center for University-Based Development is seeking a clothing store, coffee shop, restaurant and print shop, among other businesses, as tenants for the first floor. A dry-cleaning business has already signed on as the building's first retail tenant.

For more information, contact Tommiea P. King at 601-979-2950.

Vowell's Opens in South Jackson
Vowell's Market Place opened yesterday in the Raymond Road location that formerly housed a Kroger grocery store. The Mississippi-based Vowell's chain represents an important addition to south Jackson, which has grown with the addition of the Timber Falls and Forest Hills Place residential developments. Vowell's received a $50,000 reimbursement grant from the city to cover the cost of renovations and equipment purchases.

"We are so proud to have Vowell's here in south Jackson, in a very thriving part of the city," Mayor Harvey Johnson said in a statement.

Pearl Gains Miracle-Gro
Lawn and garden company ScottsMiracle-Gro announced plans yesterday to open a production facility in a former Clorox plant in Pearl. The company projects that the $17 million investment will create 95 jobs.

Rankin County and the city of Pearl enticed the company with 10-year tax exemptions, and the Mississippi Development Authority contributed other tax incentives.

Business E-Waste Day Tomorrow
Businesses can dispose of old computers and other electronics tomorrow at the Mississippi Farmer's Market on High Street. Recycling services for unwanted electronic devices are available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of Business E-Waste Day, sponsored by the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, along with the city of Jackson, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and other area organizations.

The Mississippi Farmer's Market is located at 929 High St. For more information, contact Kellye Smith at 601-948-7575, ext. 238, or e-mail ksmith@ greaterjacksonpartnership.com.