The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce drew a packed house to the Koury Convention Center on Wednesday, Aug. 27, for its 2025 State of Our Community Luncheon – one of the Chamber’s biggest annual gatherings.
More than a thousand business leaders, elected officials, and community partners filled the ballroom for the program that both celebrated Greensboro’s current very impressive momentum and urged the community to keep pressing forward at a strong clip.
The event featured remarks from Tom Barkin, the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, who provided some perspective on national economic trends.
The program also included Dan Da Silva, president and COO of JetZero, the aviation company that recently announced a $5 billion investment in Guilford County tied to more than 14,500 new jobs.
JetZero’s project is one of the largest economic development announcements in the county’s history and has been a centerpiece of local leaders’ economic development efforts this year.
In addition to the economic outlook and business updates, the Chamber used the occasion to recognize several people and organizations that have played key roles in Greensboro’s progress over the years.
- The Stanley Frank Economic and Workforce Development Award was presented to Dennis Quaintance and Nancy King Quaintance for their decades-long work building a stronger and more inclusive economy.
- The Kathiann Lester Accelerate Award went to the Greensboro Swarm, the city’s NBA G League team, which has become a consistent community partner as well as a sports draw.
- The Hubert B. Humphrey Jr. School Improvement Award went to Eastern Guilford High School, honoring that school’s efforts to raise student achievement and strengthen engagement in the surrounding community.
Glad the pixie dust is flowing and everybody is happy. So when will you reduce taxes?
Okay. Now that the people and organizations and politicians who have benefited the most from the area’s growth have now been recognized, let’s hold a gathering for ordinary citizens, people like working stiffs, senior citizens, unemployed, and people who “own” property but can no longer afford to pay the exorbitant property taxes, and… who are happy with the state of the “community.” Koury Convention Center not needed.
We do not own property, the govt does. If you don’t pay the rent, you forfeit your home for unpaid rent, and get the balance back, if there is any. If you are upside down, you still owe the govt for that, too.
Many of those at the Koury Convention center are enablers and participants of govt policy, and benefit from same.
Doesn’t anyone know what is really going on?
Another way to think of this is that is you dont pay your fair share if community costs such as police, fire, school, roads, etc…. ypu are kicked out of the community.
But you be you.
Oh Chris you forgot a big one
Nonprofits or taxpayer gimmes
I grew up in Guilford County been here almost 70 years other than
my 12 years of public school myself nor any of my family have ever used any of the public services you mentioned so I guess I’m paying for what others use. I live on a private road that myself and 2 others maintain without any public assistance, don’t need it or want it. Don’t mention schools, both my kids were home schooled. One is an attorney, the other is a regional manager for a Fortune 500 company. Hell Chris for the amount I’ve paid in taxes the last 40+ years I could have bought my own fire truck and had my own private security service But as you say you be you
So who’s the sheep now.
* * * *
Well said, Rebel! I have never used all the crap that government busies itself with either, except for driving on the roads I’ve paid for.
We home schooled too, because we were surprised at how abysmal the government schools were. One son won a free ride to MIT, the other a free ride to Chapel Hill.
Government invariably evolves into malignancy, greed, and when unchecked, totalitarianism.