June Publisher’s Note

Watch the walls come down, whether it’s in the South or on Wall Street. When the walls come down, what do we find? More markets, more talent, more capital and growth. Which means that the race and sex discrimination stunt economic growth. It’s not good for capitalism. It’s not good for America’s growth. And it’s not morally right.

Jesse Jackson

There has almost never been a period of substantial economic growth in the United States without significant investment. And no investment pays off within the same cycle. No investment pays off within the same year – especially a governmental investment. Even businesses don’t work that way. 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Read

In the City of Roanoke, there are areas with revenue rich (South Roanoke) and areas where there is revenue deficit (Southeast and Northwest Roanoke). The lack of economic development growth is causing the demise of revenue growth in the SE and NW areas.  While the economy is growing, poor areas of the city and throughout this country are not really realizing the growth in business and the economic injection wealthier communities are seeing. I understand and respect the fact that City government is doing wonderful work in the downtown area of the city. It is important to revitalize the downtown structure in order to continue to attract local and major businesses to the area.  The partnership of Jefferson College and Radford University is a tremendous collaboration that will stimulate employment and education in the Roanoke Valley.

However, we cannot focus on economic development in just one area of the city.  Access to reasonable capital for entrepreneurs and business owners is important to help bring self-sufficiency in ALL of our neighborhoods. It also will lower the unemployment rate in the areas of our City.  We currently have multiple banks and credit unions in our city and region. If the banks and credit unions collaborated on generating a fund to provide reasonable low-interest rate loans to startup businesses and existing businesses in a geographical area, not only would this provide the support for a strong and vibrant economic structure in the these unrich income areas, but it also would provide hope and determination to our entire citizenry.

Isn’t that what we all want?