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Taking care of business
Doug Thompson May 5, 2008 - 1:31pm.
In 1992, I opened my one-man free-lance photography business in Arlington County, Virginia. When you open a one-person shop in Arlington, home of 39 Fortune 500 companies, you don't expect to make much of a dent in the local economy.
Yet, in the first month of business, the county administrator, chairman of the board of supervisors, my local supervisor, the director of economic development, the fire chief and the police precinct captain, dropped by to say "hello" and to welcome me to the Arlington business community. Several gave me their home and cell phone numbers and urged me to call them anytime I had a question or problem.
Over the next 12 years, I had contact with many county officials and most always asked "how's business?" and "is there anything I can do to help?"
In 2004, Amy and I opened a studio in the Jacksonville Center and stayed there for three years. During that time, no county official set foot in the studio or dropped by to say howdy. Last year, we opened a new studio in The Village Green in downtown Floyd. On Sunday, a member of the town council dropped by -- not so much to visit but to discuss a recent story critical of town government. He was the first town council member to pass through the door.
Newcomers and those interested in relocating to Floyd often ask me if the area is friendly to small business. I usually tell them of the contrast between the welcome I received in Arlington and the indifference in Floyd. Floyd is not unfriendly to new business. It's just indifferent at best. It might offer rent subsidies to a Volvo-owned company that wants to locate a recycling plant in the industrial park but it is, by and large, benign when it comes to the many small, more entrepreneurial operations that form the backbone of new business in the county.
During a break at a recent meeting of the county board of supervisors, which I attend each month to cover for The Floyd Press, I told the story about the treatment of small business owners in Arlington and noted that no supervisor has ever set foot in my either of my earlier businesses in the county or come to the front door of my home.
Virgel Allen, newly-elected supervisor of Little River District, overheard the conversation and said: "Doug, if I were your supervisor, you would have heard from me."
I laughed.
"Virgel," I responded. "You ARE my supervisor."
business owner
As past owner of Oddfellas, I will always remember the busy Friday night when a certain town employee sat in the restaurant and looking around said, "You're doing great. We're going to tax you." Those exact words. That, I think, speaks to the attitude of the town toward small business owners. I have also wondered at the reluctance on the part of the town board to expand the town limits - this would immediately include additional businesses, some that already benefit from town services, and increase revenue for the town. Seems like a no-brainer.
I love this blog.
I love this blog.
So what happened to that thread?
Doug,
I was wondering what happened to the thread that was critical of the town government in regard to its action (or inaction) on the Farmers' Market grant proposal. Was the Sunday visit related to that?
You mean this thread?
You mean this thread?
That's the one!
I'm surprised it hasn't received more comments. I guess it got pushed down the list with all the other goings on you've been covering. Count me in on anything to support the Farmers Market, not to mention better and more open government. I can't vote in the town (I guess many of us can't) but I can support those who run on a platform of an open government that listens to the people. As long as I'm paying taxes, I intend to do what I can to help.
I wonder what this u-turn is all about? Is it the budget? I always thought matching funds were a good investment, especially for projects that will bring folks into town to support downtown businesses. It will keep more of the money in Floyd and help prevent sprawl. You've got to wonder what's going on in these "closed" sessions. You must have hit some kind of nerve there if someone actually came by your office! Maybe they all need to get out a little more often and see what's going on.
"No supervisor in either of your businesses"
In your comparison of the welcome received in Arlington as compared to Floyd, you said "that no supervisor has ever set foot in either of my business operations." I would like to take exception to that. Not only have Bill (Bill Gardner, Supervisor , Burks Fork District) and I been in your store, we have bought two beautiful framed photographs from you. I think you owe Bill an apology. Bill and I greatly support local businesses.
Ginny, you are correct that
Ginny, you are correct that you and Bill came by my shop not long after we opened and I appreciate the business. However, two points:
1--I was talking about my two businesses located in the county (first at the Jacksonville Center and later at home), not the studio in the town of Floyd.
2--Two, as a recall, you and Bill came by in December, before Bill took office on January 1. He was not, at the time, a supervisor. Bill also visited my studio at Jacksonville Center before he launched his campaign for supervisor.
Bill is one of two supervisors brought into office as part of the voter anger expressed in last year's elections and I appreciate what he is trying to do. However, he is a supervisor in Burk's Fork District and, as such, has little effect on what happens to a business inside the town limits of Floyd.
Thanks for your response
Doug, thank you for your quick response. We were in your shop in December after Bill was sworn in on the 3rd of December. I just wanted to clarify that. We will continue to support all local businesses as much as we can.
Bill will continue to do all he can for the betterment of the entire county.
Ginny, thank you. I was in
Ginny, thank you. I was in the courtroom that day to watch the swearing in ceremony. Although Bill was sworn in on Dec. 3, his term of office did not officially being until January 1. I'm not trying to pick nits and I appreciate the support both of you gave the shop on that day. I'm hoping the fresh blood on the board will change the indifference of the past.
The indifference of government, both at the county and town level, is both traditional and cultural. It has existed for too long and it will take the efforts of newcomers like Bill and probably more newcomers to change.
Thanks Doug, I appreciate
Thanks Doug, I appreciate your comments and know that it will take all of us working together to effect positive change.
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