Published: September 30, 2009 11:18 pm      

Jim Bethel: We must adapt to changing times

Why does an owner of a local carpet mill support the “Grow Greater Dalton” effort? My reasons are both business and personal.

Wearing my business hat, I know manufacturers who have established a long-term commitment to the Dalton community want the local economy to be vibrant. Although there are many business reasons that fuel this desire, two which stand out are: 1) Vibrant local business environments attract and retain a full spectrum of talented people. Talent at all levels is absolutely necessary to the long-term future of every business. 2) Vibrant local communities usually avoid the temptation of burdening their existing corporate citizens with disproportionate property taxes and other employment costs. In other words, doing business in a diverse vibrant economy makes for good business.

How will Grow Greater Dalton promote our area as a vibrant community? Dalton is well known as The Carpet Capital of the World. We take pride in the fact that Dalton is one of the few communities in the United States that still makes something. Driven by carpet, our local economy has become accustomed to more than 50 years of business expansion and personal opportunity. These opportunities came in the form of jobs in the mills and through the prosperity of support activities. But times change. Today, Dalton is faced with a mature carpet industry that should continue to be a strong building block of our local economy. Yet, even with an improving national economy, the days of significant carpet-related expansion is over. While some carpet mills will expand, the total industry employment will decline. The majority of local leadership understands that without aggressive recruitment of new jobs, the economy of Dalton will decline.

Quite frankly, existing industry welcomes new and diversified manufacturing. We understand the importance of additional partners to the local business community. We understand the additional support opportunities that each new business partner creates: teachers, bankers, service mechanics, machine tool operators, health care professionals, etc. We understand the contribution that each new job opportunity makes to the quality of life in a community … and the effect that each new opportunity has in retaining and attracting people to greater Dalton. If we want to continue to enjoy the benefits of our 50-year economic expansion, we must all realize that economic times have changed. Grow Greater Dalton is a direct reflection of the changed economic environment and the necessary community response.

To remain vibrant, our community must take steps to encourage the creation and retention of jobs. “Grow Greater Dalton” is one step in that direction.

On a personal basis, you need to know that I was not born in Dalton, I was not schooled here, and my early professional career carried my wife and me to many other communities. Upon starting a family, Patricia and I specifically chose to live in Dalton because we felt it was the best place for us to raise our children. While the cultural values and community structure we found here may not be for everyone, it was perfect for us. As we all look to the future, I know that that the choices available to your and my grandchildren will be greatly diminished if there is no economic vibrancy within our local business community. At the very least, I desire that the children of this community have an opportunity to succeed in Dalton should they choose to live here.

Dalton is blessed with many strong economic positives: an established and extensive employment base, a competent workforce that is oriented to the production of goods, exceptionally priced utilities, higher education that is expanding its local touch through the Archway Partnership Initiative … the list goes on and on. We must all realize that, unless we quickly take advantage of these positives, they will surely slip away. Grow Greater Dalton is an effort to seize our advantages while we still have them and to multiply them for future generations.

Communities that try to ride only one horse are left behind and rarely catch up. That does not need to happen here. Personally, I will work to see that we continue to offer opportunities in Dalton … and I invite you to join me in that work.



Jim Bethel is co-chairman of the Advance Division of Grow Greater Dalton. He works at J&J Industries.