Haltom City Business Leader Offers $100,000 to Revitalize Declining Neighborhoods

While leadership has been focused on growth and development in newer areas of Haltom City, the older south and central neighborhoods have been left in an ongoing spiral of decline. Residents and business owners alike have been calling attention to the problem for years, yet little has been done to help.

In 2021, a coalition of small business owners came together to form the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) in order to represent local businesses and offer suggestions to local officials in an effort to bring much-needed attention to the issue. According to HUBA, a strategic concept plan is desperately needed if the city has any hope of turning things around. The group has repeatedly offered common sense ideas and suggestions to the City Council and has suggested that the city first focus on main corridors such as Denton Highway, Carson, NE 28th Street and Belknap where commercial vacancies abound.

Frustrated by the city's lack of action, HUBA co-founder Ron Sturgeon is currently offering up to $100,000 of his own money to the city to have a study done by the nonprofit group Strong Towns. Strong Towns is an American nonprofit dedicated to helping cities across the country to become financially strong and resilient. The objectives of Strong Towns are as follows: "We advocate for cities of all sizes to be safe, livable, and inviting. We work to elevate local government to be the highest level of collaboration for people working together in a place, not merely the lowest level in a hierarchy of governments."

Said Sturgeon, "Over the past few years, it has become clear that the city is unwilling to listen to proposals from the business community. But maybe the city would be more willing to listen to independent experts. Strong Towns could assess the situation in the older south and central areas of the city, identify barriers to progress, and submit a plan designed to guide the city in adopting strategies to help spur revitalization in those areas."

It is Ron's hope that the City Council will recognize the urgent need for action, accept his generous offer to underwrite the cost for the city to hire Strong Towns, and work collaboratively with stakeholders to get things done. "Without a plan, nothing is going to change. So if YOU want to see the older areas of Haltom City revitalized, make your voice heard! Contact city leadership. Tell them to accept the offer to work with the experts at Strong Towns. The time for action is now."