Comments on: Strategic Plan To-Do List: A Diversity of Businesses

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:07:14 +0000

Several small businesses owners and enterpreneurs have tried Decatur. The local economy base cannot support these, and the rents are still too high for lower traffic places to make it viably. Plus, the lack of adequate lodging for more tourism dollars is lacking. Also, more downtown living would help support these stores, but folks keep fighting it.

By: Udog

Udog — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 23:46:50 +0000

The only tax breaks the City can offer are property taxes and that’s not going to happen. Decatur is not a big corporate real estate market. Companies that relocate here don’t have to own real estate. They can be tenants, who don’t pay property tax anyway, at least directly. JC and Glockenspieler are on the right path but it doesn’t have to be a microbrewery.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 23:29:07 +0000

Sure homegrown is fine, and yes we have plenty of talent here (although I would not think that CDC and the VA hospital breeds many entrepreneurs). But recruiting a company brings jobs, a broader tax base, a more diverse economy, and people. What is wrong with using tax incentives to land a company? What am I missing here?

By: Tom L

Tom L — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:58:53 +0000

Unique = CDC and VA Hospital. Add universities and stir.

By: Glockenspieler

Glockenspieler — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:55:48 +0000

I think JC’s comment is hugely sensible. The tax break path for such businesses is a terrible path to start down. I am actually kind of skeptical as to the ability to really actively court particular kinds of businesses apart from doing sensible things that should be done anyway.

When I think of small cities that really take off economically, there’s always a bit network effect that builds on what makes that area unique (even if only slightly so relative to the surroundings). So what makes Decatur unique relative to the surroundings (even if it is only a perceived uniqueness). Well, I think we do quality of life pretty well, schools that are decent, and thanks to the BSP folks and the beer festival we have a bit of a beer culture going on. There’s probably alot of other stuff as well that isn’t coming to mind.

So, we need a microbrewery!