By Nicky Smith
Greensboro is a city with immense potential. Its rich history, strong community values, and family-friendly environment make it a wonderful place to live and work. However, as we look to the future, it’s clear that Greensboro is at a crossroads. Over the past decades, we’ve seen businesses leave, jobs disappear, and opportunities diminish. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Greensboro can become a thriving hub of innovation and prosperity with the right leadership, a renewed focus on business growth, and a commitment to economic development.
As a lifelong business leader and advocate for economic development, my experience uniquely positions me to help Greensboro seize this opportunity. My journey leading Carolina Digital Phone—a company built on technology, adaptability, and customer satisfaction—has taught me the importance of vision, strategy, and teamwork in building sustainable success. These are the principles Greensboro needs to move forward.
Over the years, Greensboro has struggled to retain and attract businesses. Manufacturing plants that once employed thousands have shuttered their doors. Startups and tech companies have often overlooked our city for Raleigh, Charlotte, or neighboring states. And while we’ve seen pockets of growth in certain industries, much of our business community still feels stagnant.
At the same time, our workforce faces challenges in adapting to the demands of a modern economy. We need more technical training programs, partnerships between businesses and schools, and support for entrepreneurs who want to start and grow their ventures here. Greensboro is not lacking in talent or drive—we’re lacking the infrastructure and support to help our community thrive.
Greensboro’s future lies in a three-pronged approach: investing in local businesses, attracting new industries, and fostering a business-friendly environment.
Our existing businesses are the backbone of Greensboro’s economy. From small family-owned shops to mid-sized companies employing hundreds, these businesses make our city unique. To help them grow, we must:
Greensboro’s location, affordability, and family-friendly reputation make it ideal for new industries to set down roots. We can attract companies in sectors like technology, green energy, and advanced manufacturing by marketing our city as a welcoming, business-friendly destination. This means:
Businesses thrive where they feel supported. By creating a business-friendly environment, we can ensure that new and existing companies choose to invest in Greensboro. This includes:
What sets Greensboro apart from other cities is its heart. This is where families thrive, neighbors know one another, and community values still mean something. Building on this foundation can create a city businesses want to call home. Imagine a Greensboro where young entrepreneurs find the support they need to launch their dreams, established businesses feel confident investing in their growth, and families see opportunities for the next generation to succeed.
This vision isn’t just possible—it’s achievable. But it requires bold leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to long-term success. As someone who has built a career on these principles, I am ready to help lead Greensboro into its next chapter. We can make Greensboro a beacon of opportunity, innovation, and growth.
Let’s build the future our city deserves. Greensboro is ready for a new era—let’s get to work.
Donate today, and let’s choose Greensboro’s future. Together, we can ensure that our city thrives for generations to come. Your voice matters—your vote matters—your support matters. Let’s make it count.
– Nicky Smith
Candidate for Greensboro City Council, District 4
