Robert Burns, Mayor, City of Monroe
In an interview with Invest:, Monroe Mayor Robert Burns shared how the city’s strategic location and robust manufacturing sector make it an attractive aerospace hub, the need to serve its historic Black neighborhood, and the significant strides made to revitalize the downtown area and keep it family-oriented.
What have been some of the key milestones and achievements for the city of Monroe over the last year or so?
One of the things I am most proud of seeing our city do is becoming part of the Good Jobs, Great Cities initiative. We are one of 16 cities across the entire country that were selected for this achievement. It is a badge of honor that highlights us as a destination point. Through Good Jobs, Great Cities, we have started an initiative called Monroe Works. It is our own vision of North Carolina Works, where we connect people to local jobs. We have also had many businesses come to our local area, with some big companies like Briolf coming all the way from Spain. Monroe is quickly becoming a manufacturing destination. We have a lot of interest from businesses wanting to start here, but we want to ensure that we connect people and offer these businesses not just the land they are purchasing but also our No. 1 asset: our people.
Through the Good Jobs, Great Cities, or Monroe Works initiative, we are starting apprenticeship programs from middle school through high school. When people go to college, they do not have to pursue a full four-year degree as they can start working almost immediately for their families. Additionally, for those who are underemployed in our area, we provide the opportunity to join these apprenticeship programs in partnership with South Piedmont Community College. Organizations like Briolf and Greiner Bio-One are part of this effort. They tell us they need technicians for various roles, and we partner with South Piedmont Community College to build the apprenticeship program for them. Just recently, we announced a large $40 million investment in downtown Monroe, which will be a new boutique hotel. This will bring even more life to our city center.
What is the status and progress of the downtown revitalization plan?
The downtown revitalization plan was one of the things I ran on during my campaign. The previous plan was not up to par to be honest. Through discussions with our administration, we are getting a chance to reapply our efforts, and I am seeking to bring not only youth but also energy to push things forward. Starting in September 2024, we are beginning the strategic planning for our entire city. This will involve bringing in investors and excitement to our city. With the announcement of the new hotel, that will be huge. In 2023, we had eight restaurants, and now we have 13. We still aim to fill all the empty buildings downtown. I believe proper investment in our downtown will have a ripple effect across the city, making it a destination rather than people having to go to larger downtowns like Charlotte.
We also have new apartments that just went in and more are opening up and we have a property that will soon be available for investors. In our strategic planning, we are working on parking, which is a significant issue. Lastly, we had a massive Latin Fest about a month ago with around 3,000 to 4,000 people downtown. We push events like car cruises and Music on Main, shutting down our beautiful, historic downtown and making it family-oriented.
As the aerospace industry grows, what role does the Charlotte Monroe Executive Airport play, and how do you see the aerospace industry cluster evolving in the city?
Our airport is the No. 2-ranked general aviation airport in the state. It is getting a lot of attention across the state and beyond. Everyone is looking for hangar space, and Monroe has ample property to fulfill that need with new hangars being built. Our new administration is pushing the airport as a major connecting point. We have ATI, which just opened one of the largest metal presses in the country. We are known for manufacturing parts for airplanes, making us one of the top manufacturing cities in the Southeast. We have been pushing this with the help of the Monroe Union County Economic Development Commission.
How is the city’s commitment to innovation and progressive thinking reflected in its policies and projects?
When people move into the area, they often elect individuals who represent their values and priorities. As elected officials, our policies adjust accordingly because we hear our citizens’ voices. There’s a lot of excitement about bringing in jobs and the ongoing manufacturing developments. You can’t drive through Monroe without experiencing the growth firsthand, especially given the increased traffic. We are becoming very business-focused, considering various incentives to attract more people and businesses. As a member of the Economic Development Commission, I’m constantly discussing new projects that can drive growth. This growth has shifted our focus from being a small town to a growing medium-sized city in North Carolina. We now need to prioritize innovation, attract new businesses and companies, and develop policies that support this growth. We are working on incentive programs for residents and businesses to ensure Monroe continues to thrive.
What role do recreational facilities play in enhancing the quality of life for residents and making the city more family-oriented?
We have an incredible parks and recreation team. We just passed a budget for this year with significant investments and improvements to our gyms and facilities across the city. We are redoing the basketball courts, adding pickleball courts, and embarking on many other initiatives because Monroe’s economy is healthy. Quality of life matters to people, and in local government, we can affect that quality of life faster than the state, and much faster than the federal government. Our decisions are geared toward ensuring that our residents benefit. We are focusing on special needs and disabilities, ensuring facilities are available for them as well so they can be part of the community and not feel left out.
What are your top priorities and goals for Monroe over the next couple of years?
I have a lot of priorities because this is a big city. There is a historic Black neighborhood in Monroe that has not been properly served. For years, efforts to revitalize it have been stuck. This neighborhood was once vibrant, with many Black families working on the railroad. We now have a three-phase plan. First, we are conducting a full brownfield evaluation and adding wider sidewalks to create an outdoor history museum. Next, we will build a community center shaped like a train station with businesses and restaurants. The final phase is a co-working space, potentially partnering with South Piedmont Community College’s entrepreneurial building. We want to bring life back to this community. Investors are getting excited about this project. We aim to create a place where the community can live, work and play.
What is your outlook for the next two to three years?
As the chairperson of the Tourism and Development Authority (TDA), we are funded by a hotel tax set up by the state in the early 2000s. In Monroe, we are doing well with this. We have revitalized our Dowd Theater, a main attraction with a beautiful marquee. We also have a science center that is doing incredibly well. We are working on a new project for our golf course, transforming an old ballroom into a place with golf simulators and a restaurant. We have many exciting developments through the TDA, including marketing investments, skate parks and additional dog parks. It is an exciting time for Monroe.
