A Charlotte councilperson hosted a town hall to address job access and transport issues in East Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte city councilperson held a town hall Thursday focused on economic development and job access in East Charlotte, where transportation barriers remain a key concern for residents.
Councilperson Marjorie Molina said the most common question she receives from constituents is about job opportunities in East Charlotte.
“For at least the last decade, we’ve been told that no companies want to come to East Charlotte,” Molina said. “The jobs are coming, but they’re coming to other areas of Charlotte, so in District 5, people have to get on a bus and ride.”
The town hall featured representatives from Workforce Development and Charlotte Economic Development.
Molina cited a Mecklenburg County land use study that found major corporations favor locations with highway access when choosing where to establish operations.
“Transit is inextricable to getting people to the jobs that we intend for them to have,” she said. “It’s a multi-pronged action plan that we have to take. With the strategic investment areas, we’re already making progress, but there’s still work to do.”
East Charlotte resident and community leader Carolyn Millen emphasized the importance of transportation infrastructure.
“If we don’t get better transportation systems, we’re not going to have upward mobility or economic development,” Millen said.
According to the Chetty Reports, which research economic issues, Charlotte ranks third out of 50 cities for economic mobility progress.
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