9 to 5: A Call to Revitalize Jackson’s Tourism and Reform Our Tourism Commission
The Issue
Petition Title: 9 to 5: A Call to Revitalize Jackson’s Tourism and Reform Our Tourism Commission
To: The Jackson City Council, the Mayor of Jackson, and the Jackson Tourism Commission
The Goal:
We, the undersigned residents, business owners, and supporters of Jackson, are launching the "9 to 5" Petition—named in honor of the legendary Dolly Parton and her tireless dedication to building up her home region of Sevierville and East Tennessee. We are calling for immediate action to reform our Tourism Commission, re-evaluate our current marketing strategies, and change the economic direction of our city.
Why This Matters
Dolly Parton showed the world what happens when a community invests passionately, strategically, and transparently in its own potential. She transformed Sevierville and the surrounding Smoky Mountain area into a global tourism powerhouse, creating thousands of jobs and ensuring a vibrant future for generations.
Jackson has incredible culture, history, and community spirit, but our current tourism numbers and marketing efforts are missing the mark. We are working "9 to 5" to keep our city afloat, but our local leadership is not working hard enough to bring the world to our doorstep. We need a modern, aggressive, and highly accountable approach to tourism that puts Jackson on the map.
Our Demands
We demand the following structural changes from the City of Jackson and its leadership:
Complete Reform of the Tourism Commission: We call for an immediate audit of the Tourism Commission’s operations, board appointments, and decision-making processes to ensure diverse, modern, and energetic leadership.
Comprehensive Re-evaluation of Marketing Strategies: Our current tourism marketing is outdated. We demand a transparent review of where marketing dollars are being spent, an overhaul of our digital and regional campaign strategies, and a clear plan to highlight Jackson’s unique assets.
Strategic Re-direction for City Growth: Tourism should be an economic engine for local small businesses, hospitality workers, and artists. We demand a collaborative, forward-thinking Master Plan for tourism that aligns city development with community needs.
Join us on September 25th, 2026 9-25
What to bring:
-Wear your Dolly shirts or bring your best Dolly impersonation.
-Bring a folding chair. Will have open mic for the community to discuss our needs.
-Any supporting protest signs
We will play some Dolly music in her memory.
Location: Lester Smith Memorial Park on College Avenue in Jackson Kentucky.
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Sign the Petition
By signing below, you are demanding that Jackson’s leadership stop settling for the status quo. Let’s bring the energy, vision, and success of Dolly’s Tennessee to the city of Jackson.
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The Issue
Petition Title: 9 to 5: A Call to Revitalize Jackson’s Tourism and Reform Our Tourism Commission
To: The Jackson City Council, the Mayor of Jackson, and the Jackson Tourism Commission
The Goal:
We, the undersigned residents, business owners, and supporters of Jackson, are launching the "9 to 5" Petition—named in honor of the legendary Dolly Parton and her tireless dedication to building up her home region of Sevierville and East Tennessee. We are calling for immediate action to reform our Tourism Commission, re-evaluate our current marketing strategies, and change the economic direction of our city.
Why This Matters
Dolly Parton showed the world what happens when a community invests passionately, strategically, and transparently in its own potential. She transformed Sevierville and the surrounding Smoky Mountain area into a global tourism powerhouse, creating thousands of jobs and ensuring a vibrant future for generations.
Jackson has incredible culture, history, and community spirit, but our current tourism numbers and marketing efforts are missing the mark. We are working "9 to 5" to keep our city afloat, but our local leadership is not working hard enough to bring the world to our doorstep. We need a modern, aggressive, and highly accountable approach to tourism that puts Jackson on the map.
Our Demands
We demand the following structural changes from the City of Jackson and its leadership:
Complete Reform of the Tourism Commission: We call for an immediate audit of the Tourism Commission’s operations, board appointments, and decision-making processes to ensure diverse, modern, and energetic leadership.
Comprehensive Re-evaluation of Marketing Strategies: Our current tourism marketing is outdated. We demand a transparent review of where marketing dollars are being spent, an overhaul of our digital and regional campaign strategies, and a clear plan to highlight Jackson’s unique assets.
Strategic Re-direction for City Growth: Tourism should be an economic engine for local small businesses, hospitality workers, and artists. We demand a collaborative, forward-thinking Master Plan for tourism that aligns city development with community needs.
Join us on September 25th, 2026 9-25
What to bring:
-Wear your Dolly shirts or bring your best Dolly impersonation.
-Bring a folding chair. Will have open mic for the community to discuss our needs.
-Any supporting protest signs
We will play some Dolly music in her memory.
Location: Lester Smith Memorial Park on College Avenue in Jackson Kentucky.
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Sign the Petition
By signing below, you are demanding that Jackson’s leadership stop settling for the status quo. Let’s bring the energy, vision, and success of Dolly’s Tennessee to the city of Jackson.
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Petition created on September 8, 2026