affordable housing projects scattered throughout the city,” the Mayor explains. “When we talk about workforce, you need some pieces of affordability where workers can live and then work at local businesses.”This approach ensures North Tonawanda can attract and retain residents across various income levels. Luxury housing is also part of the equation. “We recently saw a major development of 200 marketrate units overlooking the Niagara River at 606 and 624 River Road that range from $1,600 to $4,500 a month,” says Mayor Tylec. “These highend units include amenities like a swimming pool and clubhouse.” Wilson emphasizes the breadth of their housing strategy: “We have diverse housing options—everything from low-income to multifamily units to luxury living on our waterfront. We have a wide array of options for people to live here.” INCENTIVES AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES North Tonawanda has cultivated a business environment that emphasizes local ownership while providing targeted financial support through multiple channels. This approach has yielded a commercial landscape characterized by independent businesses rather than national chains, creating a distinctive identity for the city’s retail and dining sectors. “We don’t have a ton of chain businesses or restaurants. A lot of our businesses are local, living here or within the area, and I think that’s a critical piece that sets us apart from surrounding municipalities,” says Mayor Tylec.The city backs this local focus with substantial resources, including “rolling incentives depending on what we’re able to acquire from different state grants as an incentive for businesses to come here and grow.” Wilson details the array of economic support programs available: “We have a micro-enterprise program for small startup businesses with five or fewer employees. The biggest objective of all these programs is job creation and assisting low Austin Tylec, Mayor Laura Wilson, Executive Director, Lumber City Development Corporation 154 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04
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