Strongest Town 2023, Round 2: Hershey, PA vs. Jackson, TN
Welcome to the second round match-up in the eighth annual Strongest Town Contest! In this round, eight towns are facing off, and four will advance to the next segment of the contest based on your votes. We invite you to review photos and captions representatives from these communities provided to demonstrate the strength and resilience of their town or city—then vote for the strongest candidate!
Can’t decide? If you’re looking for inspiration, check out how we describe the Strong Towns approach.
You may vote once per match-up. Round 2 voting closes at noon CT on Thursday, March 30. For rules, and to follow along with the contest, visit the Strongest Town Contest page.
Note: All entries are lightly edited for clarity and readability.
VOTING FOR THIS ROUND IS NOW CLOSED. RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, MARCH 31.
HERSHEY, PA
Entry submitted by: Sean Capper and Lena Becker.
This photo shows downtown Hershey and Hershey Park. Attractions like Hershey Park, the Hershey Museum, and a cute walkable downtown attract thousands of tourists, generating revenue that keeps Hershey financially solvent.
(Source: Dan Gleiter.)
Locally owned Pronio’s Market is a small supermarket that is located within Hershey’s suburbs. It has local products from surrounding farms, and no parking lot.
The Milton Hershey School is a free private school for underprivileged children. The campus is crisscrossed by bike paths that lead into the countryside.
The Jonathan Eshenour memorial trail is a bike path that connects the town of Hershey to bars, the medical center, the planned West End neighborhood, and several parks and ponds.
Bikes and Beer riding event sponsored by local TRöEGS Brewery. It promotes biking and the local businesses of the town.
JACKSON, TN
Entry submitted by: Mayor Scott Conger, Amy Mallette, Claire Pierson, Abby Palmer, and Kenneth Cummings.
(Source: Source: Kenneth Cummings, Director of Communications for the City of Jackson.)
This image is from the city of Jackson's celebration of Black History and Black Culture from February 2023, the first celebration of its kind in Jackson's City Hall. In the photo, a local theater company is leading the audience in an "honor circle," where participants get to honor each other for their contributions. This celebrates our city's diversity and celebration of every aspect of our history.
(Source: Kenneth Cummings, Director of Communications for the City of Jackson.)
This photo was taken on the first day of home repair projects completed by our Love Your Block program, which is a Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation grant program awarded to the city for community connectedness, blight remediation, and neighborhood beautification. In the photo are three young girls who are part of Keep My Hood Good, a local nonprofit that works to promote personal, civic, and community responsibility for underserved, underprivileged youth through structured activities that encourage breaking the generational and poverty cycle within families. It illustrates our strength in the way every generation works together to help revitalize our neighborhood and our city.
(Source: Kenneth Cummings, Director of Communications for the City of Jackson.)
This photo is from a community engagement event we have called “Scott’s Strolls.” Mayor Scott Conger joins residents in their South Jackson neighborhood to take a walk and the residents share both concerns and strengths of their neighborhood. This opportunity allows residents to have their mayor in their neighborhood, and it displays our strength in the different neighborhoods that are located within the city.
(Source: Jackson International Food and Art Festival.)
Captured in this photo is a moment from the 8th annual Jackson International Food and Art Festival held in 2022. The festival is a celebration of the diverse cultural backgrounds of residents throughout West Tennessee, promoting cross-cultural engagement and spreading cultural awareness. Its overarching aim is to emphasize the commonalities that connect us, rather than the differences that divide us.
(Source: Paris Creative Agency.)
The photograph captures the Lane College band, a distinguished Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in Jackson, demonstrating their exceptional musical talent and contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of the city's bicentennial celebration parade. The Jackson-Madison County Bicentennial, a momentous occasion that aimed to honor the rich and diverse history of the city, was a significant milestone in its history, bringing together residents from all walks of life to celebrate their shared heritage and aspirations for the future.