The Big and Easy (TM) tool can help city leaders choose, size, and prioritize when crafting an initiative to revitalize inner-city areas

HALTOM CITY, TX, September 12, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ — In the second edition of Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America’s Small Cities — The Critical Role Small Businesses Play in Bringing Back Jobs & Prosperity authors Gregory Smith and Ron Sturgeon expand on several issues that are of particular interest to their readers:

• Form-Based Codes: What They Are and Why Cities Should Consider Adopting Them
• Impediments to Small Business Starting & Growing and Keys to Returning Commerce and Prosperity
• Failed Revitalization Ideas
• A Form-Based Code Success Story: Mansfield, Texas
• Understanding Real Estate: A Key to Revitalization
• Choosing, Sizing, and Prioritizing Your Initiative: Strategic Thinking
• Ready to be the Evangelist and Change Your City? It can be a Lonely Assignment

In Chapter 21, the authors focus on a tool called the Big and Easy (TM) for choosing, sizing and prioritizing strategies in any initiative. The tool comes from an earlier book authored by Ron Sturgeon who himself is a highly successful entrepreneur, real estate investor, and business consultant known for his expertise in strategic planning and his proven track record when it comes to effective investment practices.

According to the authors, the Big and Easy (TM) tool “is so simple and effective that it’s fun to use” and “will help you identify which initiatives are most likely to produce the best results with the least effort, shortest time, and prioritized cost.” Also, “Using the tool trains your staff to understand the relationships between revenues, expenses, and resources, and to act accordingly.” Sturgeon uses the tool in his consulting practice and invites clients to learn more at his Peer Benchmarking website as well. “It’s a great tool for a workshop, and a team-building exercise is a bonus.”

The authors make it clear that once initiatives have been identified and prioritized, it’s important to get full buy-in (although having team members participate in the analysis stage tends to make the buy-in process easier). Next steps include taking the items ranked as “to do” and putting them in a calendar with milestones or a “bridge plan” designed to set benchmarks on the way to completion. It’s equally important to assign accountable parties for each item “so everyone knows who is responsible for the results and milestones.”

Author Ron Sturgeon is currently giving a free copy of the book to any Haltom City resident or business owner who requests one. The giveaway is part of the Make Haltom City Thrive Again movement, launched in 2022 to call attention to the fact that city leaders are failing to address the issues in Haltom’s declining south and central corridors. Ron, who feels strongly that the growth of small businesses in his hometown of Haltom City, Texas is a must in order to reverse inner-city decline, also founded the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) in 2021 to help advocate for small businesses.

To get a free copy of Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America’s Small Cities, 2nd Edition, send an e-mail with your name and address to [email protected].

About Ron Sturgeon
Ron Sturgeon, “Mr. Mission Possible,” combines 40+ years of entrepreneurship with a deep resume in consulting. When his dad died and Ron had no place to live, 17-year-old Ron began a career in entrepreneurship which led to his building a chain of salvage yards sold to Ford in 1999. After his repurchase of Greenleaf from Ford and subsequent resale to Schnitzer, Ron became a real estate investor. He has 1,500+ tenants and loves small businesses. As a consultant, Ron shares his expertise in strategic planning, capitalization, compensation, growing market share, providing field-proven, high-profit, best practices well ahead of the curve. He has recently published his tenth book, Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America’s Small Cities, and is leading a grassroots effort to bring prosperity back to the city where his business career began. He was recently a finalist in Ft. Worth Inc’s Entrepreneur of Excellence competition.

About Haltom City
Haltom City is a medium-sized city between Dallas and Fort Worth in Tarrant County, TX. The city is diverse and majority working class, with a growing population that is approximately 10% Asian-American and 45% Hispanic. Haltom City benefits from being only minutes from both DFW Airport and Downtown Fort Worth, with direct access to major highways including I-820 and SH-121. Small businesses that have historically provided products, services, and jobs to residents included a once thriving automotive industry. The city has seen a decline in small businesses, especially automotive businesses. The city is healthy financially, with median household income growing around 8% in the past year. Haltom City has an opportunity for continued growth through undeveloped land and many vacant buildings, especially in major corridors close to the city’s center. The city has good staff and a city manager who is interested in seeing more businesses come to Haltom City, but they can only do as directed by City Council.

About Haltom United Business Alliance
Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) wants to give members of Haltom City’s business community an advocate and to keep those businesses informed about issues that affect them. They want to make sure Haltom City is business friendly and nurtures small business growth, including automotive businesses in the industrial districts, and bring more restaurants including breweries and eventually a major grocery store to the city. New businesses and growth in existing businesses will create a stronger tax base which will allow the city to pay its first responders wages that are competitive with surrounding cities while improving Haltom City’s facilities and infrastructure. HUBA believes that the southern and central parts of the city need a revitalization plan, to prevent further degradation in those areas, and wants that to happen before the inner-city experiences increased crime and more blight. As retail and office uses are in decline, it’s more critical than ever to attract new businesses. They believe that such a plan requires a strong relationship and support of the business community. Anyone who owns a business in Haltom City is eligible to join HUBA. Dues are $20 annually or $50 for a lifetime membership, and membership is 100% confidential. To join, contact Joe Palmer at (682) 310-0591 or by email at [email protected]. Visit the group’s Facebook at Haltom United Business Alliance.

About Make Haltom City Thrive Again
The Make Haltom City Thrive Again website offers information and resources about its purpose and goals. For more on Sturgeon’s personal ideas and background, check out his book Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America’s Small Cities and watch the videos on his Facebook page. Ron is also the founder of the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) which represents existing business interests in Haltom City and promotes growth of diverse businesses as well. HUBA is not a political action committee and does not endorse candidates. If/when Ron endorses candidates, he will do so on his own with the Make Haltom City Thrive Again organization.

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