Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) Believes Keeping Score Will Help Haltom City Do Better in the Competition to Attract Small Businesses Back to the Older Parts of the City

    HALTOM CITY, TX, December 05, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In June of 2021, Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) learned that Haltom City does not track inquiries about starting or expanding a business in the city.

In July of 2021, HUBA delivered a research report to Haltom City Council, the City Manager and staff that included this recommendation: "Haltom City's Economic Development Corporation [should] begin to track telephone and walk in inquiries from people about opening new businesses in the city…."

"In the time since the city received that recommendation, no action has been taken," said HUBA Communications Director Joe Palmer. "For the city to know how well its efforts to attract small businesses are working, it should track inquiries and benchmark against similar cities," added Palmer.

"Without keeping score, we can't know if Haltom City is falling behind in the competition with nearby cities for the finite number of startups," said HUBA Founder and Small Business Advocate Ron Sturgeon.

In addition to tracking inquiries and benchmarking, HUBA has recommended the city do an annual census of businesses in the city so that it can measure the success of economic development efforts over time.

To start that effort, HUBA arranged for the first census to be done earlier this year. The census discovered significant inaccuracies in the city's list of businesses based upon certificates of occupancy and revealed that Denton Highway has a nearly 30 percent vacancy rate.

HUBA believes bringing small businesses back to the main corridors in South and Central Haltom City is the key to revitalization of those areas. HUBA is seeking candidates for Haltom City Council who will take the actions necessary for Haltom City to win the competition for new small businesses.

If you are interested in running for Haltom City Council or have ideas to contribute to the effort to revitalize South and Central Haltom City, please contact HUBA Founder Ron Sturgeon at [email protected].

Sturgeon is now spearheading a campaign called "Make Haltom City Thrive Again (MHCTA)" in an effort to educate citizens about the need for change. "Haltom needs leaders who are willing to tackle the issues head on. The city council should create a Concept Plan which addresses planning, zoning, and start-up regulations in the south and central areas. Amazon isn't going away, and while the city waits for retail to come back (which it's not), small businesses, including services and automotive, are needed to help alleviate the pain."

The MHCTA website has a draft Concept Plan which outlines several well-researched ideas for the city's consideration. Says Ron, "Anyone who lives or works in Haltom City and is hoping for a brighter future for themselves, their children, and their community should consider getting involved."

About Haltom City
Haltom City is a diverse, majority working-class city located between Dallas and Fort Worth in Tarrant County, TX. Haltom City is minutes from both the DFW Airport and Downtown Fort Worth with direct access to major highways including I-820 and SH-121. Due to an outdated and restrictive use matrix that discourages new business and deters growth, several areas of Haltom City have seen a decline in small businesses which provided goods and services and were a significant source of jobs, including the once-thriving automotive industry. However, Haltom City can reverse this trend and should prioritize development of inner-city land and vacant buildings, particularly in the major corridors close to the city's center. The city is financially healthy with a capable manager and staff who would like to see diverse business development occur and need the support of the City Council to make it happen.

About Haltom United Business Alliance
Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) wants to give members of Haltom City's business community an advocate and to keep those businesses informed about issues that affect them. They want to make sure Haltom City is business friendly and nurtures small business growth, including automotive businesses in the industrial districts, and bring more restaurants including breweries and eventually a major grocery store to the city. New businesses and growth in existing businesses will create a stronger tax base which will allow the city to pay its first responders wages that are competitive with surrounding cities while improving Haltom City's facilities and infrastructure. HUBA believes that the southern and central parts of the city need a revitalization plan, to prevent further degradation in those areas, and wants that to happen before the inner-city experiences increased crime and more blight. As retail and office uses are in decline, it's more critical than ever to attract new businesses. They believe that such a plan requires a strong relationship and support of the business community. Anyone who owns a business in Haltom City is eligible to join HUBA. Dues are $20 annually or $50 for a lifetime membership, and membership is 100% confidential. To join, contact Joe Palmer at (682) 310-0591 or by email at [email protected]. Visit the group's Facebook at Haltom United Business Alliance.

About Make Haltom City Thrive Again
Make Haltom City Thrive Again is a movement to return prosperity to the older parts of South and Central Haltom City by luring the small businesses that have left over the past decades back to Haltom City. A vibrant business community not only allows for greater employment and choice of goods and services, but also can ease the tax burden on residents. The movement is led by local entrepreneur and business owner Ron Sturgeon. For more on Sturgeon's ideas and background, check out his book, Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America's Small Cities and watch the videos on his Facebook page. Ron is also the founder of the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) which represents existing business interests in Haltom City and promotes growth of diverse businesses. HUBA is not a political action committee and does not endorse candidates. If/when Ron endorses candidates, he will do so on his own via the Make Haltom City Thrive Again organization.

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