Strengthening our community, creating opportunity, and preserving what makes Hampton home Next Meeting: October 5, 11:00 Community Center We are excited to announce the formation of a new Calhoun County Economic Development Committee focused on the future of Calhoun County.
So, why now?
There is tremendous growth happening right here in Calhoun County. The defense industry in our area is expanding, with plans that could bring thousands of new jobs to our county and surrounding area.
Those jobs will bring people. Those people will need homes, places to eat, places to shop, things to do, schools for their children, churches, services, and communities to call home.
We don’t want to be behind the curve.
If growth is coming to the area, we want Hampton and Calhoun county to have a seat at the table and be prepared to benefit from it.
This committee isn’t being formed because we want Hampton to become a big city. In fact, one of our biggest priorities is protecting the small-town feel and sense of community that make Hampton special.
But there’s a difference between staying small and standing still.
We want Hampton to be a small town that is alive, clean, welcoming and prosperous.
Our goals include:
• Cleaning up and improving the appearance of our community.
• Encouraging new businesses to locate in Hampton.
•Supporting and strengthening the businesses that are already here.
• Creating more things for families and young people to do.
• Looking for ways to improve housing and make Hampton attractive to people moving into our area.
• Increasing revenue for our city and community so improvements can continue.
• Supporting our school and helping ensure that Hampton School remains an important part of our community for generations to come.
•Finding grants, partnerships and other funding opportunities that can help us accomplish these goals without placing the entire burden on local citizens.
• Working together with our city, county, school, businesses, industries and citizens instead of everyone working separately.
Why Does Economic Development Matter?
Every time someone chooses to live here, shop here, eat here, build here or open a business here, more money stays in our local economy.
That means more revenue to maintain and improve our community.
It means more customers for existing businesses.
It means opportunities for new businesses. It means more families supporting our school.
And ultimately, it gives Hampton a better chance of remaining a strong community for our children and grandchildren.
We know this will not happen overnight. There will be challenges, and there will be ideas that work and ideas that don’t. But doing nothing while the area around us grows isn’t an option if we want Hampton to prosper.
We aren’t trying to change what Hampton is. We’re trying to make sure Hampton is still here—and thriving—20, 30 and 50 years from now.
This committee is about looking forward, planning ahead and working together to make the most of the opportunities happening right here in Calhoun County.
We welcome ideas, participation and input from our community. Calhoun County is our home. Let’s invest in its future.
We are developing a mission statement that sounds like something we all can support:
Our Mission:
To strengthen Hampton by encouraging responsible growth, supporting local businesses, improving our community, and creating opportunities for families—all while preserving the small-town values that make Hampton home.
