of Rensselaer,” says Stammel. Development efforts extend to the Port of Rensselaer, where the city is working to bring shipping and industrial tenants to vacant lots utilizing the Capital Region ForeignTrade Zone #121 to stimulate international trade and create jobs and investment. Strategic collaborations will fuel this growth. The IDA stands ready to deploy its toolkit of incentives, while state grants continue playing a vital role. Stammel emphasizes fiscal responsibility, noting how redeveloped properties now generate meaningful tax revenue compared to vacant lots,“before it wasn’t really giving us anything,” he says, “and we built for the future to get it up to the full tax revenue in the future.”This balanced approach, marrying bold vision with financial pragmatism, ensures Rensselaer’s rise benefits all stakeholders. HISTORIC ROOTS TO MODERN REVIVAL Rensselaer’s remarkable transformation under Mayor Stammel’s leadership demonstrates how vision and 100% Employee Owned 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06 RENSSELAER, NY
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