My Turn: A plan for a more diverse Gastonia economy, welcoming small business hub

Gastonia was incorporated in January of 1877. Since that day, our city has had its share of ups and downs, but what hasn’t changed is the attraction to this city of small business individuals, entrepreneurs and people looking for a better way of life. I love the story of this city, the migration of all kinds of people to this area during those early days and then during the mill town boom. We were the place to be, and many people found a place to not only survive but thrive. Fast forward to 2023 and once again people are moving here in record numbers to find a place to call home. Many of them can relate to the railroad workers and mill workers who dot our history. Their story of optimism and of seeking something better is my story too, and I think it is for many of us.

I believe Gastonia is a blank canvas, just waiting for that same creative and entrepreneurial spirit to be discovered. Some are just now catching on and others will soon enough. I believe as a candidate for mayor, that our best days are ahead of us and for small businesses this is the place to be. But how do we make sure they have a firm foundation to thrive? Here is my vision, and it starts with public safety, welcoming our young people and encouraging a more diverse economy.

First, there must be a general feeling of safety and security for all who live here, including those who open their shop doors. We must tackle violent crime between our young people and create a culture where the professional treatment of trauma is not a dirty word as well as providing recreation centers that become go-to centers for anger management, conflict resolution, self-esteem building, communication skills building, mental health awareness and mentoring to provide a pathway that motivates and empowers our young people. This is happening in the Highland neighborhood, and we need to export this model all across our city. I will initiate a mayor’s youth safety task force and use metrics to track outcomes and future crime stats. We must be proactive with our young people so we can have a future that has less violent crime among them. Working on this challenge will help us to be a more attractive site for new business as well as help all our communities feel safer. It is also the right thing to do. Investing in our future generation is always a sure thing.

Second, we must deal with the challenge of homelessness. We cannot say it is the county’s problem and turn our back on what has become the most visible challenge in our city. When I am elected your next mayor, I will make this a top priority and we will start by focusing on two areas. We will end homelessness among our city veterans. Yes, I said end. It can be done, and there are numerous national models in many different communities doing just that. It starts with identifying those who are veterans and then connects them to the appropriate housing, healthcare and personal needs. Of course, there may be some who do not wish to participate. But every veteran experiencing homelessness who wants to be off the streets, will be. This will happen in conjunction with the Continuum of Care, HUD, Veteran Services and local nonprofits and faith community members. According to the national Point in Time count there are roughly 35 homeless veterans in Gastonia. I think that number is a bit higher, so I would say the target number is around 50. Folks, that is a doable number and together we can end homelessness for our city veterans. We must also help our small businesses and their customers feel safe from panhandling and loitering. I understand that some do not understand how this is a challenge. It is if your business cannot open because someone has defecated in your doorway or people are not able to exit their cars before someone approaches them. It is not illegal to be homeless, and we must treat one another with care and respect. But it is not acceptable to break the law, no matter who it might be.

Third, we must create a culture that welcomes our young people. We need to create a city that becomes a place for individuals to start a business, start a family, and start a life. It needs to welcome entrepreneurs, tech start-ups and creative souls who seek a place to build a company and build a future. Gastonia can and should be that place. We are close to Charlotte, close to the airport, have the infrastructure, a pool of work talent and a history of being a place for start-ups to thrive. The city can help by being welcoming to all people as well as providing amenities and services that young start-ups may be looking for. We can provide community meeting space and technical support and we can help by inviting education opportunities to our city as well. We can be the start-up hub of the Piedmont. That will be my goal and I will work with others in the public and the private sector to make it happen.

And finally, we must diversify our economy and shift the tax burden from residential to corporate. We shift it by adding more corporate entities and luring additional companies to our city for their Headquarters as well as for expanded business. This must be a concerted effort among our business community as well as our educational buildings and skilled labor teaching sites. Gastonia should be a hub for these types of trade schools. We can utilize the success of Gaston College and add these labor sites as additional pathways for success. This will help to raise our standard of living, raise our overall healthiness and raise our ability to compete with and to lure additional business to this area.

Gastonia has a lot to offer, and we can be anything we put our thoughts and energy into. We have a wonderful history of reinventing ourselves and becoming a destination for business. We have been a beacon of hope in the past and with a collective effort, we can be again. I am excited about what our city has to offer and where we are headed. It will take leadership that connects the dots and understands the big picture. It will also take leadership that celebrates our wins but gets to work on our challenges. I am that person, and I look forward to working with our small business community, our education community and our people to make Gastonia a more welcoming, successful and well-known city for entrepreneurs and start-ups. Let’s make Gastonia the start-up hub of the Piedmont. That is my goal, and I hope you will join me by electing me the next mayor of Gastonia.

Robert Kellogg is a Gastonia City councilman and candidate for Gastonia mayor.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: A plan for a diverse Gastonia economy, welcoming small business hub