Economic development remains at the top of the list as the single most important issue facing Greensboro and the Triad over the coming years. Manufacturing is still part of our economic face, but growth of this sector has fallen dramatically in recent years, with most of it going overseas. Of the top two dozen or so leading businesses in the Greensboro area in the late eighties, none remain.
We are emerging into a new economic identity centered around transportation, biotechnology and a broad range of service industries. Studies continue to show our future being built around the FedEx center and PTI airport. Other businesses are filling in the central Triad area between Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point. Drive out in the Highway 68 corridor area any morning during rush hour traffic and you will begin to understand the impact this area is having.
Downtown development in Greensboro may be beginning to focus more on business; not just residential improvement. Lee Street business is taking a more active role in seeing its future on a upward trend. East Greensboro development has some roots:more remains to be done there.
The city government can take active roles in each of these areas; more than spending money, but getting directly involved and showing a "business awareness face" to area business leadership and taking a high profile role in regional and local economic development. New business looking at Greensboro as a potential location should see us as a place they want to be; not just someone to play the incentive game with. Quality companies may well locate here because of the high energy business climate.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
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2 comments:
"Economic development remains at the top of the list as the single most important issue facing Greensboro and the Triad over the coming years."
As I point out in the Greensboro Gang Report, "economic development" is a secondary issue and cannot be expected to work until Greensboro adds hundreds of police officers and brings crime under control. According to the FBI violent crime in Greensboro is twice the national average and higher than New York City. Until crime is under control Greensboro can never be expected to prosper. What CEO in his right mind would attempt to move a business that employees bright, educated and easily employable persons to a city where they fear to live?
Remember, the "creative class" can afford to live anywhere they like. We've already got the infrastructure, hopefully soon we'll have the water. Make Greensboro the safest city in America and businesses will line up for the chance to come here. Or we can spend the entire city budget on marketing lies anyone with access to the Internet can easily refute.
Thank you for taking the time to write and express your view on crime control as the priority issued confronting Greensboro. I don't believe we disagree on the importance of prompt and forceful efforts to make Greensboro a safer city in which to work and live. Economic development must remain at the top of priorities. A strong business sector provides jobs that drive the economic engine and sources the taxes needed to fight crime, and address our other pressing needs, including water. Without a vibrant economy our only other source of new money to pay the bills would be more taxes on property owners. I oppose the idea of more tax on property owners as a solution.
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