|
|
|
Councilman Greg Stanton's
North Central News Column
September 2005
Business Alliance Working Together to Improve Community
A community like North Central Phoenix is special in many ways. We have wonderful neighborhoods and great recreational opportunities.
Vibrant business corridors are another part of what makes the area a great place to live.
As your councilman, I have dedicated myself and city resources to working with our small businesses to make sure they don’t go away.
One good example is the business alliance centered on 16th Street, between Bethany Home Road and Glendale Avenue. We took action and worked with the community to bring dozens of different businesses together. The group is now a team, planning to improve the area and make it an even more attractive destination for shoppers, diners and others who are visiting the diverse businesses in the area.
This will help give the entire neighborhood a sense of stability.
“We want to lower crime and clean things up around here by working together,” said Hobe Meats owner Eric Fritchen, who recently was elected to co-chair the effort with Dr. Tammy Dorhout, a chiropractor. “When we all work together, we all benefit.”
The businesses hope to improve their area and take care of any problems before they get worse. They are exploring a variety of options and are benefiting from a city program that brings resources and decision-making power directly to the people.
I have chosen the business alliance territory as one of the city’s newest Fight Back areas. That means the group will receive special funding to attack blight and crime.
“I see the city role as helping them define what they want to do and then helping facilitate it,” said Lisa Hubbard, the Neighborhood Services Department neighborhood specialist who is working with the businesses.
She said they will be looking at forming a business Block Watch organization and studying successful blight removal, crime prevention, employment, financing and other programs the city offers for small businesses.
In addition, she plans to introduce them to state and federal programs that assist small businesses and programs provided by a number of private organizations, like chambers of commerce.
“We want to help them build new partnerships,” Hubbard said.
Each success the group achieves makes the community better. The stretch of 16th Street will evolve into a safe, attractive and prosperous area.
The key to all of this is working together, finding resources and spurring new ideas.
I am proud, hopeful and confident that all of this and more will result from this strong, new business alliance and others that are sure to follow.
Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton represents north central Phoenix. If you have any questions about any issues, please feel free to call Councilman Stanton's office at 602-262-7491, greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/district6.
Last modified on
|
|
|
| | |
| Related
Links |
 |
|
|
