So many of us sit on the sidelines and watch the world go by - ”Let someone else take care of things, not me.” While we may not come right out and say it, we sure think it. I once worked in a community where a friend of mine who knew that I worked in a city hall that had its share of drama and intrigue asked me, “How can you work down there with all that rabble?” - no doubt, referring to the elected and appointed officials with whom I spent my days and many late evenings. And, indeed, in this case they were a loutish sort, filled with vim, vigor and ego. I would not deny his characterization of this group; however, I took offense to his disdain for my participation.

To be clear, I was paid for my participation with the “rabble,” but I answered him with, “I am partnered and work with the rabble because you are not there.”  In other words, this fine man (who happened to be a college graduate with a good degree, but more importantly, with or without an education he was generally agreeable, curious and logical)  did not find it worth his time to participate in his community, but felt he could call them a pejorative name and discredit my professional choice of work environment at the same time. Imagine that!

My plea to you is that the world is not going to get better with all of you sitting on the sidelines. The community and its improvement is a participation sport. In fact, the EDC offers an easy way to participate in something we can all agree on and in which we can participate: our economy. The EDC works to help the community prosper. We do this through the resources provided to us by investors, public and private.  If you want to participate in your community, call City Hall and ask to get on a commission or committee, and call the EDC and invest some of your dollars in long-term growth. We use our funds efficiently, we have outstanding programs, we can offer you businesses and organizations that can tell you we have helped them…and we offer no “rabble” whatsoever.