Charlotte Residents Discuss Economic Development

Charlotte Residents Discuss Economic Development

Residents of Charlotte, North Carolina, have voiced their concerns regarding economic growth and the inclusion of Black-owned businesses in city development plans. These discussions were a crucial part of the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum that took place on July 9.

The economic rise of Charlotte

With significant growth in recent years, Charlotte is poised to continue its economic development journey. Proposed plans highlight a $650 million renovation of the Bank of America Stadium and improvements to the Spectrum Arena. The city’s agenda also includes the creation of The Pearl, an innovation center supported by Wake Forest School of Medicine and Atrium Health. The city’s budget for fiscal year 2025 passed on June 1, allocating $11 million for capital projects involving transportation and housing developments.

Malcolm Graham, who signifies District 2 on Charlotte City Council and chairs the city’s Jobs and Economic Development Committee, highlighted three focus points for the city – housing, workforce development, and transportation. “Our city is growing,” Graham stated, “My goal and objective are to make sure people are part of the change and not victims of it.”

Community Concerns

During the forum, residents raised concerns regarding the inclusion of Black communities and Black-owned businesses in the city’s economic growth plans. Tommie Robinson, a local resident, questioned Councilman Graham on how Charlotte’s progress will preserve its Black history and include the Black community in the economic upturn.

In response, Graham emphasized the need to invest in Black-led projects and include minority business owners in Charlotte’s growth narrative. Carlenia Ivory, a Charlottean since 1969, emphasized the disparity in development on Beatties Ford Road, urging for more efforts toward helping underserved areas.

Furthermore, another topic of interest was the city’s plan to prioritize arts and culture. Graham addressed that while $11 million was approved for the Arts and Science Council in the FY25 budget, city funding still needs to boost for new organizations. He particularly mentioned the underrepresented independent artists and the need for a “fair and equal opportunity for city funding” for their projects.

Next Steps

The Councilman shared that engaging Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), like Johnson C. Smith University, is an ongoing process the city is attentively working towards. Other areas of interest drawn during the forum included keeping streets physically clean in West End neighborhoods, creating opportunities for community use of the city’s larger venues like sporting arenas, further engaging Black-owned businesses, and more.

These active discussions among Charlotte residents underline the city’s commitment to inclusive economic growth and development, ensuring every resident’s voice is heard and their interests considered.