Onslow Business Revitalizing Downtown Jacksonville an Ongoing Effort
Making a difference for businesses in and around the Greater Onslow County area: Jacksonville, Swansboro, Richlands, Camp Lejeune, Holly Ridge, Hubert, Sneads Ferry, North Topsail Beach, Surf City, and beyond.
Downtown Jacksonville has changed considerably over the years. Once a very small town of about 800 people, Jacksonville’s population doubled almost immediately when the military set up camps in the area in 1940. In 1990, the city annexed portions of Camp Lejeune, increasing its population to over 65,000. Today, the population is over 72,000.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
onslowbusiness.com
November 2024 Vol. 1 Issue 1
Onslow Business is a monthly publication designed for businesses in and around the Greater Onslow County area. Each issue is free to read and will be distributed at a number of locations throughout the county. It is also available to read online at onslowbusiness.com.
During the transition with the military’s arrival, downtown became a popular spot for businesses such as bars, tattoo shops, and strip clubs, according to Dena Gates, who leads the group that is working on revitalizing downtown businesses. The Downtown Arts Revitalization and Tourism (DART) group is focused on helping downtown businesses survive and grow. They are working with the city to help save older buildings and to improve the general environment of the downtown district. Gates says the discussions began about a year and a half ago when
the group “originally started talking about how to help businesses in downtown Jacksonville.” She points out that there are 80 business locations in downtown but 39 of them are vacant. Some of the challenges can be traced back several years ago, when the city decided to “clean up the town” and established a list of new rules and regulations for businesses. While those rules worked to an extent, many are still in existence even though they are no longer needed and, in fact, work against businesses in the downtown area.
that we're trying to help new businesses with and give the city some guidance about what’s working and what’s not working.”
The city also recently brought in a consulting company, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), that spent four days evaluating the situation. They talked to different groups, toured the city, and came up with a game plan of ideas and suggestions,” Gates says.
The city “changed ordinances, changed what type of businesses were allowed,” Gates says. Part of DART’s goal now is to work with the city to change some of those regulations.
DART, adds Gates, is “trying different ways to save old buildings.” In addition, she says, they are “trying to bring a little bit of everything to the downtown area.” New businesses as well as those that have been in the downtown area for decades will benefit from DART’s efforts.
Gates says, “we started talking to some commissioners and we started talking to some business owners about how we can improve things.” She adds, “there's been a lot of changes
The group is waiting for the results from the consultant’s report before moving forward. That report, which will be presented to city council, is expected to be released soon.
Economic Development ........ 2 Pitch It! Onslow..... 3 Chamber Corner .... 4 Training Opportunities ....... 5 MED Awards ......... 5 Joshua Hearst ....... 6 Coastal Enterprises 7 The Prep Kitch’n ... 8 Veteran Small Business Week ...... 8 Community News ... 9 OUTS Input Requested .......... 10 Marine Federal Reaches Milestone. 10 Humphrey Farm Opens Store ........ 10 Social Media Guidance ............ 11 Are Your Employees Exempt? ............. 12 Email Stats ......... 13 Business Communications ... 14 Local Chambers .... 14 Networking Opportunities ...... 15