Job Creation and Retention

Core Vision #2 – Support efforts to create new jobs and promote job retention

Charlotte was one of the last major U.S. cities to feel the ill effects of the current recession. Why, you ask? Because we were able to leverage our strong local economy and business-friendly environment to stave it off longer than others. These same factors have also helped us remain fiscally buoyant as Wachovia, one of the city’s largest companies and employers, has been acquired by California-based Wells Fargo.

Overall, Charlotte’s business community is thriving. In the wake of the Wachovia buyout, Bank of America completed several timely acquisitions to solidify its foundation and help the city maintain its status as the country’s second largest banking center. Moving forward though, we’ll need to look beyond the big banks to attract and retain a more diverse range of domestic and international companies.

We’re already headed in the right direction, thanks to the Bio-Tech and Green-Tech industries that are being locally developed. Plus, both the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Charlotte Regional Partnership have done a good job with their respective job recruitment and retention programs.

To maintain this positive momentum, the City Council must continue to promote the growth and development of small businesses. They must also continue to support the Chamber’s efforts and those of the Regional Partnership to diversify our local economy, recruit new companies and encourage business expansion. In essence, we need to make sure that the rest of the country — and world — knows that Charlotte wants, and can handle, their business.

As a City Council member, I will actively support efforts to attract new companies and jobs to this area. I will approach our city’s economic development from a regional prospective, and be a strong proponent of public/private partners who endeavor to address the needs of our communities.

Bookmark and Share