Liz Kirchner
communitynews@ourvalley.org
Workshops, parking, landlords, and building a middle-income citizenry were among the subjects explored at a business forum hosted by the Radford Chamber of Commerce.
More than 50 Radford merchants, community members, and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority, Radford University and elected officials crammed the library community room last Thursday evening. Every minute of the meeting’s allotted hour and a half was filled with problems, suggestions, success stories and goals.
The garrulous group was led by David Horton, president of the chamber and the second person to announce his intention to run in the upcoming mayoral election.
Horton led with the caveat that the Chamber cannot “wave a magic wand,” but assured the audience that the chamber is equipped “to communicate, advocate, support and report” for the business community.
The conversation began by eliciting challenges and barriers to businesses.
“Is there something we’re not doing that we should be doing? Is there something that works in other communities or success stories in Radford?” he asked. “Our goal here tonight is to begin a community conversation about what’s happening in the city. What are possibilities, ideas and challenges?”
The first comment, from Laura Gordon, recommended that the city provide a more obvious “how to start a small business” path. While the city treasurer’s office was full of help and information, she said it is the Roanoke Regional Business Development Center that holds workshops and classes.
Radford’s not part of the consortium, although resources are accessible through it. During the evening, opportunities for workshops were recommended, including training in not only “how to start a business,” but also “should I start a business?”
The beautification of buildings was cited as a difficult problem, complicated by a landlord’s absence or indifference. The chamber indicated that revisiting code enforcement could be advocated to the city council as well as establishing expectations in a business district. City leaders recalled a facade enhancement program in which the city shared costs with businesses.
“We’d design the awning, say, and provide $500 and the business would provide the $1000,” said a chamber member.
While reiterating that property rights are sacrosanct, most agreed, “somebody with a really poorly represented property impacts everybody.”
Lauri Murphy of Green Heron Art Center pointed out that the insides of buildings are problematic too, limiting rental stock. Not only facades are in need of repair, it’s the interiors she said.
“I need to expand the Green Heron. I looked at other places, but there’s no firewall. I’m not going to put my business in a building that is essentially in need of dire repair. Businesses on Main Street are struggling with leaky ceilings. Building owners need to improve and upgrade what’s inside. How do we hold building owners accountable? An air-conditioner, a firewall, how do we say ‘we would love to move in there if you fix these things,’ but they say ‘no’?” Murphy said.
While there are vacant storefronts, “we don’t have as many sticks as carrots,” said Horton, but tax incentives were mentioned.
“We might say, ‘hey, you’re losing money if you don’t have a firewall or air-conditioning. How do you maintain for the rent you can charge.’ How do we get that concern in front of the people?” Horton asked.
The audience suggested both carrots and sticks. Open houses following a building renovation, opening it up to show it off the amenities may engage a building owner more deeply in the community, while the fire marshal and building inspector may play a role too.
The pros and cons of shopping districts were briefly explored. Establishing lively, full-street entertainment, shopping and restaurant districts might provide economies of scale to potential customers.
“Building owners are choosing who they want in their buildings based on how much money they can get. So they choose churches and services and next thing your know you have four or five services on a potentially beautiful retail space, so our retail is spaced so far apart that none of our customers want to park, get out, shop, get back in the car, drive, park,” Murphy said.
Others pointed out that a restaurant might benefit from proximity to an insurance office or service that would patronize the restaurant.
About halfway through, the conversation organically expanded to big-picture issues of strategies to woo a moneyed, shopping citizenry, building trades and STEM skills in schools and linking schools to businesses, supporting high-end housing development.
“If anyone tells you there’s no work. There’s work. It’s everywhere. The skills gap is the number one reason the region loses jobs is because we look like we’re not prepared,” said Virginia Employment Commission representatives.
“Companies love the idea of a pipeline, but they need workers today,” she said, “I will take every welder, every machinist you can give me. Any industrial maintenance person you can give me. Similar with nurses at the RN and CNA positions open every day with hiring bonuses for CNAs,” she said. “Management level people with work experience and knowledge of recent technology are at a premium.”
Segueing smoothly, Rob Graham, superintendent of Radford City Public Schools reiterated that businesses insist that, beyond technical know-how, students need soft skills.
Graham took the opportunity to announce an upcoming event at Radford High School describing the school system’s plans for an Innovation Technology Center that will help train students and adults in both hard and soft skills, knowledge and trades for a future economy that’s hard to imagine.
Wrapping up, the group talked about the New River, its beauty and ways to showcase and protect the resource without impairing it. They listed economic development success stories in small towns like West Jefferson, North Carolina, Staunton and Marion. Places that identified a strength: a theater, a river, local food, landscape and history, and then championed it.
This community conversation is built on the critical-but-invisible bones of Radford’s recently established economic development zones, infrastructure renovation and a program of small-business incentive grants awarded to fledgling businesses.
Samantha Newcome, owner of Pazar a restaurant on Clement Street was awarded one of the first. In the audience, she was asked whether the grant had helped. Her response was, “I am blessed.”
Ending on a high note, Horton encouraged the group to be ambassadors and provide mutual support by buying each other’s wares, giving advice and networking.
“This is a symbiotic relationship,” he said. “Just because somebody wins doesn’t mean somebody loses. As ambassadors, we need to tell that positive story. People want to invest in a community that’s on the rise. And Radford is on the rise.
We have to tell our story.”
