Brewer’s vision on growing Fort Payne’s Economy

Brewer’s vision on growing Fort Payne’s Economy

By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor

tyler@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — This week, the Southern Torch caught up with Lynn Brewer, who’s seeking a Fort Payne council seat on October 4.

In our political coverage, we seek to create a forum for candidates to discuss issues that are important to them, relevant to the city and the election. We let the candidates do the talking so that voters can make an informed decision on election day.

Lynn Brewer
Fort Payne City Council candidate Lynn Brewer

With Mrs. Brewer’s business background and work in the revitalization efforts in Fort Payne, naturally, the conversation centered around growing the local economy.

“We need to invest in each other,” Brewer said on what needs to happen to help everyone prosper.

“It’s kind of a personal philosophy of mine,” she said. “We can’t expect the next generation, especially with how fast things move now, to succeed if we don’t invest in them.”

“I’m very passionate about trying to help small businesses, and when I say, ‘help’ that doesn’t always mean monetary help, a lot can be achieved with support and mentorship,” she said.

When talking about growing the economy as a whole and revitalizing Fort Payne, Brewer believes what’s needed is an organized plan, with a city government that facilitates growth and helps organize the plan.

“I think that’s what it’s been lacking is a plan,” Brewer stated.

“We need to decide what we want Fort Payne to be. And I don’t think it’s necessarily up to the council to decide that, it’s up to the citizens to guide the council and decide what we want to be,” said Brewer.

“‘Where do we want Fort Payne to go?’ is the question we need to ask, and it needs to be communicated to everyone, from the Mayor and the Council, the civic organizations, all the way down to the citizens,” she said.

“We all need to work together towards that. Instead of all taking a piece and going our own way. We can accomplish so much if we all have the same goals,” Brewer said.

“If you get a group together, you can get so much more done,” Brewer added. “If you have a definite plan, it can become what we want it to become.”

Brewer also believes that a big part of Fort Payne’s economy and future lies not within the city, but outside the city in people visiting to appreciate all of the natural attractions.

“One of the things people keep talking about is Tourism,” Brewer said. “I don’t think a lot of people realize that it’s such a big industry, it’s a huge industry. It’s something that’s already here.”

“We don’t necessarily have to invest a lot of money to grow it. We can keep the character of our city, and still make it where people would want to come here,” she said.

“These are each piece of that puzzle. Mainstreet is a piece, tourism is a piece, and bringing in retail is a piece. These things are pieces of the puzzle on how we grow Fort Payne and our future,” concluded Brewer.