Business gather for strategic planning

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite Editor

Slaton businesses gathered at City Hall Wednesday evening (Aug. 6) to discuss ways to help bring visitors to the City during a Stakeholder Input Session at City Hall.

Lezlee Harlan, Executive Director of the Slaton Economic Development Corporation said the they and the City brought in Downtown Strategies, a group who helps break down strategic plans into “bite sized projects” to help pull everyone in as a City in Downtown and beyond. 

She added there were were avenues to bring vibrancy immediately to the city and help the businesses, such as not calling it a “Square” any more but a “Historic District” so as to include businesses not directly around City Hall.

Jeremy Murdock, Community Development Specialist with Downtown Strategies then spoke. He said his speciality was to change the dynamic to obtain business for the businesses. 

Harlan added one of these was the schools as they drive the community and was Slaton’s largest employe. One goal was to find ways to get housing for teachers and administrators, a diversity of houses and build a community that helps get people to shop local as well.

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.