Why it's important locals invest in our town

Hello friends!

First, I want to say thank you for the incredible response to last week’s article on lodging. I was overwhelmed — in the best way — by the number of people who read, shared and engaged with it. That kind of feedback tells me we’re having the right conversations about the future of our community.

And speaking of lodging — something we all hope to see more of in the near future — today’s topic ties right into that vision.

Recently, Big Hickory Golf Course welcomed new ownership, and it’s already creating excitement. The new owner is under 30 years old, full of energy, and has big plans for improvements and expansion. While he may technically be from the next county over, he has strong family ties here and has spent a lot of time in Clay County. That’s close enough for me to call him one of our own.

More importantly, it’s an investment I truly believe will pay off — not just for the course, but for our entire community.

And it doesn’t stop there.

We now have two groups of local investors preparing to move into new tourism-related spaces downtown. One group is made up entirely of young entrepreneurs under 30, and the other is led by someone just barely into her 30s.

Think about that for a moment.

What does it say when young people are stepping up and investing their time, money and future right here in Manchester?

It tells me they believe in this place.

They see what many of us have been talking about for years — the growth, the progress, the potential. They see a town that’s on the rise, not standing still. They see opportunity.

And that should excite every single one of us.

I also received a call just yesterday from another potential investor looking to start a new business here. That’s how momentum works. One investment leads to another. Confidence builds. Word spreads.

The more we support these local investors — especially our young people — the stronger our community becomes. Every new business adds to our charm, strengthens our economy and gives people one more reason to visit, stay and believe in Manchester.

We are moving in the right direction. You can feel it. You can see it.

And after years of hoping and working toward this kind of growth, it’s a breath of fresh air.

Much love, Manchester.