HUBA seeks candidates who know the older parts of the city are different and need to be treated differently & who understand the role small businesses will play in revitalization

HALTOM, CITY, TX, January 03, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ — Virtually every week for the last year, Haltom United Business Alliance, a group of local small business owners, has issued a press release about the need to bring small businesses back to South and Central Haltom City’s corridors to revitalize these areas.

A founder of the business alliance, Ron Sturgeon, paid for a third-party study of Haltom City’s economic development that included many recommendations to the city. The City has never acknowledged the study or acted on any of the recommendations. The residents want to see a grocery store on Denton Highway, and more restaurants. Unfortunately, HUBA believes that those types of businesses aren’t going to come to a declining corridor.

The current council has taken no meaningful steps to bring small businesses to the corridor, which is preventing these major desirable businesses from locating in the city. They have proposed a 30-year Tax Increment Reinvestment Plan (TIRZ), which can only be spent on infrastructure, which is unlikely to help with vacant buildings. HUBA also doesn’t believe the residents want to wait to see a 30-year plan work, just for infrastructure. You can visit Sturgeon’s web site, www.MakeHaltomCityThriveAgain.com, for his ideas on bringing back small businesses.

The business alliance offered to partner with the city to mentor new small business owners who had to complete conditional use permits to open in Haltom City. The city never acknowledged the offer. One current Council Member even warned city council to be suspicious of the motives of the members of the alliance and called it a special interest group.

The business alliance suggested the city might want to include non-resident business owners and non-resident property owners on its economic development related committees to bring more stakeholders to the table and gather different ideas on revitalization. The city ignored the suggestion and has kept its rule that only residents can serve on committees in place.

The business alliance offered the city a set of amendments to the table of uses designed to spur growth by making it comparatively easier to open many kinds of small businesses in Haltom City rather than in nearby cities that Haltom City completes with. The city disregarded the proposal.

The business alliance has suggested that the city do a small business census annually so that it could measure its efforts to grow the number of small businesses in the city. Haltom City Council has never debated the proposal or acted on it in any way.

The business alliance suggested the city might want to track inquiries from people who want to start or expand small businesses in Haltom City. The city does not track these inquiries now. The alliance suggested that tracking them might yield insights into the reasons some businesses choose to go elsewhere. No action has been taken on the suggestion.

The business alliance suggested the city might want to build a brand and create overlay districts with relaxed rules to spur small business growth in the areas where it is most needed. The city has had no response.

The business alliance suggested that Haltom City could implement a form-based code for overlay districts simplifying the process of changing uses and simplifying opening a business with a new use. Mansfield, Texas, has used form-based code for its historic downtown and has several new projects underway in the district.

The decline of South and Central Haltom has been underway for years.
City leaders have watched as Kroger closed.
They have watched as CVS closed a few blocks away, partly because of high levels of retail theft.
They have watched as Fire Cup Coffee, a much celebrated start up, has closed its coffee shop on Denton Highway.

City leaders have not yet taken the very first step toward fixing the problem. They have yet to admit South and Central Haltom City have a problem and need revitalization.

We wish our current City Council members were up to the task, but we are realists. We have more than a year-long record that shows they are not.

We need new leadership. We need people to run for Haltom City Council who want to take actions to revitalize the parts of Haltom City that need it the most. If you are willing to serve, time is of the essence as the filing deadline for the upcoming election is mid-January. Contact Ron Sturgeon at [email protected] if you are willing to run.

About Haltom United Business Alliance
The Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) represents existing business interests in Haltom City and strives to promote growth of diverse businesses as well. Founder Ron Sturgeon recently co-authored and published a new book — Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America’s Small Cities — which offers key strategies for revitalizing America’s inner-city areas. All Haltom City business owners are eligible to join. Dues are $20 annually or $50 for a lifetime membership, and membership is 100% confidential. For more information, contact Joe Palmer by phone at (682) 310-0591 or email [email protected] or visit the HUBA Facebook Page

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For the original version of this press release, please visit 24-7PressRelease.com here