KEEP BUSINESS IN PARKLAND
Generate business opportunities and new business creation
We have a serious problem in Parkland. I don’t know why every restaurant I fall in love with ends up closing its doors after a couple of years. My wife loved the I (Heart) Mac & Cheese in Parkland Commons. Now it’s gone. Before that I use to take my nieces and nephews to Sub Zero Ice Cream and that’s gone too. Not to mention Bahama Grill.
All the stores on 441 are forced to fight against the current because of sign restrictions and set back requirements. Why hasn’t something been done to help our businesses? I shouldn’t have to go to Coconut Creek or Coral Springs to get a meal or service when we have so many vacant spots in Parkland. Business revenue not only increases our quality of life but it also can help pay for our city.
As a business owner I can appreciate what many of the companies are experiencing, especially during this difficult time. We need to support them:
- We should be offering business owners a grant to buy PPE equipment for their customers and staff. This not only keeps them safe but it also keeps our residents safe.
- We should have a board that evaluates how we can help generate new business and retain the existing ones.
- We should host community events in shopping centers.
- We should be relaxing the signage laws on 441 or at least cutting the trees that block the signage they do have.
- We should have a link for all new businesses on the main Parkland website.
- We should showcase one or two different businesses every month on our website.
- We should sponsor a month called “The Best of Parkland” and allow local business to participate.
- Lastly, we should start showing businesses that we are invested in them by having a business link on the front page of our website that gives the opportunity to generate sales. The link should open to an updated newsletter of business opportunities and events, as well as the traditional permit and other filing requirements.
Honestly, if what we are doing is not working, we need to do something else. By investing in businesses now, we are investing in the future of Parkland.
