Grace Media Group – NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM, 93.1 FM & WNWS.COM visited with Jeff Griggs, mayor of the City of Lexington for some insight into the commuity with a question and answer session.
Question: First, a little background information. Where are you originally from, family, education, and career?
Answer: I was born and raised in Lexington, Henderson County. I attended Lexington High School and took distributive education. This allowed me to attend vocational school my Junior and Senior years. For 33 years, I managed my family’s grocery store – Big Star – and catering business.
Before becoming mayor of Lexington, I was the Maintenance Supervisor and Executive Director of Beech River Watershed for 10 years.
I am married to my wife, Paige, and I have two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren.
Question: How long have you been mayor of Lexington, and when and why did you decide to enter the political arena? Did you hold public office before you became Lexington’s mayor?
Answer: I have been City mayor for seven years, but before I was mayor, I was an alderman for eight years – 2009 to 2017. I acted as vice mayor for six of those years.
WestStar Leadership played a role in sparking an interest about running for office, and I very much wanted to get involved.
I ran for my mayor because the community had been so good to my family while we were in business.
Our city was beginning to lose jobs, and I felt like I owed something to the community. I wanted, and still want to give back to our area.
Question: How is the economic landscape in Lexington – jobs, industry, retail, housing?
Answer: With our jobs, we are blessed with a quality workforce, but we need more workers for what’s coming. The industry here is great, and we are fortunate. Our retail is currently experiencing growth.
As for the housing, our area is in desperately in need of affordable housing to match the growth.
Question: It seems competition between cities and communities for business is getting greater. What would you say are some of the challenges facing Lexington and Henderson County?
Answer: We have been blessed regarding business, but housing is our greatest challenge.
Question: Lexington and Henderson County are well-positioned between Memphis and Nashville. What is the approach your community is taking to take advantage of the location?
Answer: We know and have known for years that our location is a great asset for us.
- Our school systems, city and county, are awesome. They are continuously awarded with special achievements.
- Our crime rate is low, and this has been a continuous trend.
- Our “Quality of Life” and recreational opportunities are top notch. We have recreational lakes and a state park, Natchez Trace State Park, in our community,
- Our Industrial Park – Timberlake – is “shovel ready,” and we just need the housing to match.
Question: Are you seeing interest, inquiries in Lexington and Henderson County due to BlueOval City?
Answer: Yes, we are and have been ever since the announcement. We’ve already had several site visits, and we are ready!
(PHOTO: Jeff Griggs)
