What's Happening in Gastonia, NC…

Grant funding of $2m is being sought by the city of Gastonia for an initiative designed to remove the challenges disadvantaged neighborhoods find regarding economic development, mobility, and connectivity.

Called Project CHANGE for Connecting Highland: Access, Neighborhood Growth, Equity, the funding and the initiative would enable the city to carry out a feasibility study to determine if and how such a gap could be addressed in the city. Officials from the city say the study would enable them to see the options available for bridging the divide.

News about such initiatives is often disseminated throughout a city with flyer printing.

Assistant City Manager Quentin McPhatter said that many of the areas located to the railroad ditch’s north are experiencing these issues, with poverty a factor. McPhatter added that there are many run-down buildings that once were businesses and older homes, while south of the ditch there is much new development and many prosperous businesses.

The study will look at improving Highway 7 and capping the railroad ditch. These seem to be the major barriers for those more disadvantaged communities to the ditch’s north and the downtown area, which experience issues with economic development, connectivity, mobility, and general access.

If the grant is approved, the city would need to contribute $500,000 to the study, which would begin by the end of the year.