High Point leaders discuss state of the city

HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — Around 500 city and business leaders in High Point came together to celebrate growth, development and the progress being made in the city.

City leaders and the chamber of commerce at High Point University on Wednesday hosted the State of the City.

The State of the City address was given by Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Holmes.

“When you think about what High Point was a few short years ago and what High Point is now … It does seem a bit unimaginable,” Holmes said.

In the State of the City, High Point City and Chamber of Commerce leaders highlighted its social districts as areas seeing significant growth.

They also highlighted the newly passed Fair HousingOordinance, the city’s plans for restorative economic policies to further support growth and areas in the city developers are interested in.

“We’re seeing growth across all of our sectors … plus areas that probably haven’t seen investment or even disinvestment over the last decade,” Holmes said.

City leaders touted revitalization efforts in different parts of the city.

“We’re starting to see development on both ends of north High Point in south High Point,” Holmes said.

Leading into the heart of High Point, Main Street has gained some attention from developers.

“There’s inquiries on … amenities to come to south High Point … As we get to north High Point in midtown, I think we’re seeing a lot of people excited about the growth that’s coming,” Holmes said.

Leaders hinted at what could be coming next.

“There’s going to be some big announcements about some private developments that are happening … Some is within the housing. A lot of it’s in the entertainment food industry, and … it’s exploding … The city council, just this week, passed those incentives for those,” Business High Point President and CEO Rachel Collins said.

City leaders say public/private partnerships helped High Point exceed its goal of $100 million improvement in ten years.

Instead in six years, the city made $250 million worth of improvement to its tax base.

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