Ever an optimist, I keep hearing good things (drip by drip) about economic recovery locally. Like how home sales are starting to pick up again. (Okay, some are foreclosures that are being scooped up.) Realtors (bless them!) are back in the Daily Press with “open house” advertising once more. I keep hearing an oft-sung, simple dilemma: People want to relocate here, buy a home here, but can’t until they sell their present house. Sounds too simple, but I’ve heard it enough, so there must be some truth in it. I do know a number of home-buyers who have taken advantage of the $8,000 tax credit government stimulus in order to get into a house for the first time. Home ownership, as we all know, is the benchmark of the middle class, the heart-and-soul of this grand land.
Car dealers (bless them, too), in a page one story recently in the Press, had a good rise in sales recently thanks partially to the “cash for clunkers” program. If there wasn’t a clunker involved, it brought people into showrooms to kick the tires, I’m told.
|
Advertisement |
As I say often in this column: Shop Montrose!
The city has contracted with an Atlanta-based ($15,000) consultant to weigh-in whether some local organizations should be merged, how their missions overlap and are duplicated. The organizations “ the Montrose Economic development Corp., the Montrose Chamber of Commerce, the Montrose Area Merchants Association, and the Montrose Visitors and Convention Bureau “ are under the spotlight.
I’d bet the poke the MEDC gets left alone. While all have something to do with economic development “ industry relocation/expansion, retail sales, tourism “ the MEDC, like others of its ilk, operates in a different realm in trying to attract companies or grow existing industry. They deal with “bigger players,” have greater contacts at the state level and recently, David White, Ron Henderson, Gary Ellis, aka the county commissioners, voted them $100,000 for next year for promotion and marketing, up from $2,000. That sort of financial juice ensures a dose of turf protection. (The city of Montrose gives the MEDC $80,000, but has suspended $20,000 due to staff and services cuts.)
The MEDC has sharper elbows politically as well. They’ve survived (so far) one of their “success stories,” that of JetAway Aviation, a lukewarm audit in 2008, doubts of credibility and various and sundry denunciations about ethical lapses and conflicts of interest. Every community needs an independent MEDC-type organization to do the hard-core recruiting, incentive development and more. The MEDC needs the county money in order to do its job so the others in business here “ car dealers, Realtors, retailers, even a nosy newspaper “ can benefit.
The others? Methinks consolidation could be in their future. Too often, these consultants show up, invite public input, and little is done after a power point presentation, regardless of the issue “ land use, traffic, the airport, whatever. The Chamber, MAMA and the VCB have solid track records of success and community engagement. If they’re to be joined at the hip, the rationale should be justified and it should be made public.
• Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story.
• Be relevant. Keep your comments on point.
• See the guidelines for TalkAbout. Perhaps your comment is best for that community forum, available from the home page, instead of commenting on a particular story.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. Montrose Press is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in montrosepress.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Montrose Press. Montrose Press does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Montrose Press spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!