Communities are a very vital aspect of developing growth and prosperity. Think about this, when you want to shop, your zip code is requested, and when you purchase insurance, they ask for your zip code. Most things that we do today use our zip codes to determine prices and interest rates. I recall speaking with a close friend that lives in a different zip code from mine about loans and interest rates a few years ago. My friend was looking to start a new business he told me that he could get loans as low as 2% I was stunned because its difficult in my community to get a car loan less than 10%. About a year later, I called my friend and shared with him that my home-owner insurance provider canceled or refused to renew my policy. I had carried this policy for more than 24 years and never filed a claim. I was told by my friend that I was being red-lined by my zip code. I asked, what is red-lining? He explained because of my zip code my provider considered me as a high-risk customer. This was the first time that I understood how our zip codes factor into how pricing is applied to various communities. I attend the Board of Commissioners meeting as much as possible, during one of their meetings I spoke before the Board and asked why wasn’t there any places to shop for clothing other than Dollar Tree and Dollar General. Why weren’t there any places where you could have a nice dinner other than Burger King or Church’s Chicken, and their response was because of the income level (Zip Code). I took offense to their position as elected officials it’s their responsibility to improve and bring about growth for the area they represent. Communities that unify and support local businesses do much better than an area that lacks togetherness. For instance, I was at a Commissioners Meeting once and on the agenda, this night was a zoning matter. A builder wants to have a part of his community zoned commercial but because of the residents of that community united as one the builder’s request was denied. The only way to address this zip code issue and start building wealth in our communities is to unify, holding our elected officials to higher standards for our communities by insisting that they bring a better quality of life for the people that elected them. We need leaders in every community to start to bring their areas together and by doing so we can then began to build wealth so that our zip codes will no longer matter.
Marvin Dixon/Founder VMG Review
VMG Review 