Catoosa Vision

The Value of Enterprise

What value does business bring to a community? Even in a bedroom community such as ours, we need/want many convenient businesses. Beyond our own convenience however, the government relies on NET POSITIVE tax revenues generated by businesses to pay for the NET NEGATIVE service demands made by houses (think: schools, protection, roads, etc.).

So, it is inconceivable to me that it is even an option that our county would not want to support an organization/entity whose very purpose is to encourage, stimulate, foster, advance, develop, whatever-it-takes for businesses in Catoosa County.

I certainly understand that the County, like any business, must prioritize the allocation of its resources. But in doing so, the County should be looking beyond the financial fires of the moment to the needs of the future. Businesses bring jobs. Businesses generate tax revenues. Businesses pay more to the County than they demand in services. Businesses partner with social and civic organizations, including the schools, the police and fire, etc. Businesses serve as ambassadors to help attract other businesses to the community.

If we send the signal to the business community that the County does not support their own organization, what does that say to the outside world as well, not to mention the message to our own businesses?

Stranded on a beach... your hut is burning. You have one (and only one) bucket of drinking water, and no rain clouds in sight. You use your water to put out the fire.

There are other ways to solve today's problems than by doing away with that which we need to survive and prosper in the future.

posted by Chris Casey @ 1:12 PM