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Council members debate ways to support small businesses, cite South Water and Project Phoenix
Summary
Council members discussed small-business support and downtown revitalization, mentioning the South Water area, Project Phoenix, and the potential economic effects of large retailers like Target and Publix.
During other business on May 27, 2025, council members discussed the city's approach to supporting small businesses and revitalizing areas such as South Water.
One council member said constituents had raised concerns about whether the city is supporting small businesses enough and suggested exploring incentives or overlays to attract entrepreneurs and revitalize the area. The council member said small businesses are "the blood of the city" and suggested that the Economic Development Authority or chamber of commerce could examine incentive strategies.
Other council members debated whether large anchors such as Target or Publix tend to spur surrounding small-business growth or displace existing merchants. One council member said stores such as Publix and Target can act as anchors that create opportunities for leasing and franchise businesses in adjacent areas; another warned that many small businesses fail and that incentive programs must be targeted to avoid wasted public resources.
Council members referenced Project Phoenix and local development near Windsong as potential drivers of downtown patronage and said bringing residents to new developments could increase foot traffic for local shops. The discussion was exploratory; no formal motions or directives were recorded in the meeting transcript provided.
