Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
As Greensboro continues to attract billions of dollars in investment, expand its housing stock and grow its reputation as an education and innovation hub, Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter says the city’s next challenge is ensuring that growth benefits residents and keeps young talent rooted in the community.
During her first State of the City address on June 23 at The Pyrle in downtown Greensboro, Abuzuaiter unveiled “Vision 36,” a strategic 10-year framework intended to guide Greensboro’s growth and decision-making through 2036.
“We have an undeniable opportunity to capitalize on this momentum,” Abuzuaiter told a crowd of elected officials, business leaders, educators and residents. “We have everything we need, but we just don’t always move together. That changes now.”
The mayor described Vision 36 as a framework rather than a traditional strategic plan. Developed through months of conversations with residents, students, business leaders and community stakeholders, the initiative focuses on five priorities: talent retention, geographic equity, stakeholder alignment, income structure and staff readiness.
“Does this make Greensboro stronger?” Abuzuaiter asked. “That’s how decisions will get made —by understanding how initiatives align with where we’re going, how it opens doors for people who have been locked out, how it grows or keeps talent and how it brings partners to the table.”
Abuzuaiter highlighted several accomplishments from the past year, including completion of the Downtown Greenway’s first four-mile loop, marking the culmination of a 25-year vision, and the Greensboro Swarm’s NBA G League championship season.
In recognition of the team’s success, she presented a proclamation to Greensboro Swarm President Steve Swetoha declaring June 23, 2026, as “Greensboro Swarm Day.”
The mayor also pointed to Greensboro’s continued prominence as a sports destination. The ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament is set to return to the city in 2027, the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships were held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center this year, and Norway’s men’s national soccer team selected Greensboro as its World Cup training base camp this month.
On the economic development front, Abuzuaiter highlighted a $40 million expansion by Greensboro-based commercial HVAC supplier Hoffman & Hoffman that is expected to create 131 jobs. The project is eligible for more than $2 million in state performance-based incentives and grants, while the City of Greensboro and Guilford County each approved incentives of up to $196,500 a piece.
She also cited plans for a new manufacturing facility by Lumentum, a producer of data center equipment, which is expected to support 400 jobs and bring approximately $600 million in private investment to the region.
While celebrating major economic projects, Abuzuaiter emphasized the importance of small businesses to the city’s success.
“You know Greensboro is only as big as its small businesses. So, let’s not forget that,” she said.
The mayor also highlighted progress on several community projects, including the Windsor Chavis Nocho Community Complex, which reached a major construction milestone on June 5, and the installation of the Guilford County Veterans Memorial at Country Park, featuring a Huey helicopter.
She also promoted the city’s new Rise Infill Loan Program, an initiative of the Office of Economic Development that partners with lenders to support redevelopment of underutilized commercial properties and encourage investment in targeted areas.
She also pointed to the city’s Road to 10K housing initiative, which seeks to add 10,000 housing units by 2030. More than 3,200 units have already been completed or are under construction, which includes 805 single-family homes and 1,720 apartments, 662 townhomes and 12 duplexes, she said.
“We’re not just building 10,000 new homes,” Abuzuaiter said. “We’re looking to foster a community for those who live here and those who will come here in the future.”
Following her remarks, the mayor convened a panel featuring Guilford College President Jean Parvin Bordewich, Greensboro College President Dr. Lawrence Czarda and North Carolina A&T Chancellor Dr. James R. Martin II to discuss one of Vision 36’s most pressing challenges: retaining college graduates in Greensboro.
Bordewich said Greensboro’s transformation over the past decade has made it increasingly attractive to students.
“Greensboro is just a completely different place with a lot of excitement,” she said. “Students want to be in a dynamic environment.”
But she noted that many graduates face a difficult job market where employers often expect applicants to already have professional experience.
“The most important thing that we are finding, is the opportunity to have some kind of work experience before they graduate,” Bordewich said.
While reaffirming the value of a liberal arts education, she said meaningful internships and paid work opportunities are essential if Greensboro hopes to retain more graduates. She noted that of Guilford’s graduating class of 263 last year, only 62 had formal internships.
“If we could tell all of our students that you’re going to have a meaningful work experience, either paid employment or internships here before you graduate, I think they would stay, because the city has so much going for it,” Bordewich said.
She also cited Greensboro’s affordability, diversity and welcoming atmosphere as major advantages, particularly for international students. Through Guilford’s new Global Academy, students from around the world will be coming to Greensboro, but Bordewich said many employers remain unfamiliar with employment programs available to international graduates.
“These students are valuable,” she said. “They’re highly qualified students to hire without going through the usual hurdles.”
Czarda said stronger collaboration among schools, businesses and government leaders will be necessary to improve retention efforts. He recalled a former community partnership called Opportunity Greensboro, that connected K-12 schools, colleges and employers to create opportunities for students, that operated for roughly a decade before disbanding. He credited it with creating the STEM Early College at N.C. A&T, the Union Square Campus and the Greensboro Fellows program.
“Let’s talk and see if there’s not a way to get that group operating again,” said Czarda.
He also emphasized the importance of helping students feel connected to Greensboro beyond their campuses.
“We need to make sure that all of us are clear that we are a college town and our students are welcome and they are an incredibly important part of our community,” Czarda said.
Martin said A&T already retains a significant number of graduates, with 62 percent remaining in the area after graduation. He argued that Greensboro’s future depends on creating an environment where the area’s nearly 67,000 students can launch careers, start businesses and contribute to the region’s innovation economy.
“Our students should be able to really get into the flow of their career faster without moving out of the area,” Martin said. “Our students are not just focused on getting good jobs, but rather we’re generating students to create jobs.”
Martin also discussed A&T’s pursuit of Research 1, or R1, status —the highest classification for research universities in the nation. Of roughly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, only about 180 hold the designation.
“We’re right on the threshold,” Martin said. “In fact, we have passed all the criteria.”
The university expects to receive official R1 status within the next year, a designation Martin said would increase research funding, attract top faculty and students and strengthen Greensboro’s position as a center for innovation.
“What it means for the region is that we’ve become more of an economic engine,” Martin said. “We have more production of new knowledge that can be converted to innovation.”
The panel also discussed transportation barriers, entrepreneurship, alumni engagement and lifelong learning as key components of retaining talent. Martin pointed to A&T’s “Forever Learning” initiative which aims to keep alumni and community members connected to educational opportunities throughout their lives.
“We live in a world where it’s really important to learn, unlearn and relearn,” Martin said. “We’re going to have to continue to think about lifelong learning.”
As Vision 36 moves from planning to implementation, Abuzuaiter said the city’s future success will depend on maintaining collaboration among residents, businesses, educational institutions and government leaders.
“The rollout of Vision 36 is just beginning,” she said. “As we move from vision to action, our community will remain at the forefront of every investment, every decision and every opportunity to shape Greensboro’s future together.”
