Speakers urge community‑led investment for Sale Road; city says taxpayer funds cannot be used to run businesses

A speaker at the Phenix City meeting urged residents and neighborhood groups to raise private capital to reestablish businesses along Sale Road and other commercial corridors, saying the city cannot use taxpayer money to run or fully fund private businesses.

“Why don't you get a group of people, raise the capital, and start doing businesses on Sale Road? The city cannot use taxpayer monies to invest in businesses because guess what? If we lose, I think you're gonna be more upset with us because we're using taxpayer money to put businesses down there that no city can do,” the speaker said.

The speaker described a history of locally owned businesses — citing a former grocery called Winton's and barbershops — and urged community members to lead revitalization efforts. The comments stressed private investment, neighborhood coordination and the need for prospective owners to be prepared to assume the financial risks of starting businesses.

City staff and the speaker said the city can support redevelopment through permitting, infrastructure, maintenance and partnership, but the transcript includes no new city subsidy program, direct investment plan, or formal economic-development authorization recorded during the remarks. The discussion emphasized civic engagement and private capital formation rather than new municipal expenditures.

Council and staff discussion also noted recurring issues such as vandalism and maintenance costs in public spaces that affect business success; speakers encouraged local pride and collaboration as part of long‑term revitalization.

Speakers did not provide a timeline or specific funding commitments for Sale Road redevelopment in the portions of the meeting that addressed the topic.