Two words that have been used many times in previous articles yet never defined to you are “sustainability” and “vibrant,” and how they apply to our Harbor District. Do not let me insult your intelligence but, rather, define why they are so important and essential for our businesses.

Sustainability is defined in the business world as the ability to continue by providing patrons with various needs. Also, it can be the flowing of merchandise (dollars) needed in any locale of a business. Simply put, it is staying open and out of the red! Young entrepreneurs sometimes forget about light bills, taxes, supplies and paying employees, etc., when starting a business. Their ideas and visions can be spoiled by not having a good business understanding of these requirements. Beaufort Community College offers a class in small business and that can be of help to those who don’t have the business vernacular. Still, nothing is a better teacher than experience. Our downtown is full of many successful and established business leaders who can share with young people their lessons learned over the years. They can explain their successes and their failures and what they took away from each. Experience is the best teacher! Their advice could save a young, enthusiastic person many dollars if they listen and take their wisdom seriously. The Washington Harbor District Alliance is proud of the sustainability of the businesses we have in downtown Washington and is trying many tactics to help them remain sustainable while encouraging economic development. We can only hope that this will encourage young entrepreneurs to try to enter the world of private business. We hope you have a better understanding now of sustainability and hope it only will grow.

The next word used in many articles is vibrant. It’s a word that describes our existing Harbor District. Our downtown is healthy and enthusiastic, and if you do not believe me come visit on a Saturday or during one of Washington’s annual festivals and walk our sidewalks. There are many that will argue this. We want to remember the days when everything was bought downtown, but with the advent of malls and big box stores this has taken its toll on many small towns. Washington, because of its people will not let this happen. Look at the growth of downtown living, new housing and a marina on the edge of our Harbor District and homes being bought to renovate in the historic district. We have remained vibrant and will become more so with the addition of several more businesses and a possible boutique hotel in our future. These factors can only enhance our personality as a quaint and charming town with the best people you will find anywhere.

Yes, vibrant means full of life and healthy living and it describes our downtown and honestly, this writer believes we are on the verge of big things happening in our Harbor District.

Your WHDA is trying in every way to help Washington remain vibrant and sustainable, but we need your help! We are enrolling new members every day that have the same vision and dream for a better Harbor District as the WHDA. We are asking you to support our efforts by joining so that everyone may be a part of what we are trying to develop. Many have and thanks! To our friends who have not, please do so.

Please do us all a favor if you wish to help your business owners by shopping local! These are our friends, neighbors and even classmates, and they give back to our community in a big way. So, always shop, dine and play in Washington, N.C., and if you are not too tired, take walk with the H-Rob! Love ya!

Harold Robinson is the director of development at the Washington Harbor District Alliance.