Business View Civil & Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 8

40 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8 EqualHousingLender. ©2021M&TBank.MemberFDIC. Powerfully dedicated to the Niagara Falls community. At M&T Bank, helping communities thrive has been part of our DNA since 1856. And a wondrous example of this is the City of Niagara Falls. We’ve long been a supporter of tourism, revitalization and community development in the area. We consistently partner with key private and public entities and clients, like Maid of the Mist, the Aquariumof Niagara and the African Heritage Economic Initiative. Because building stronger communities for our customers, employees and neighbors through grants, employee volunteerism and overall activismwill always be important to us. 25704 Niagara Falls Ad | 3.6”w x 10”h including the South End Downtown Gateway District. “The Niagara Falls Urban Renewal Agency put out a request for proposals for a large block of land in the South End, whether they be for homebuilder projects, mixed-use items, or even just pure commercial construction,” Restaino explains. “We’ve been pleased to receive a number of offers from folks who have some pretty interesting ideas for the renovation. This is a part of the city that houses some fabulous structures – cost-wise, you couldn’t recreate some of these buildings. In many instances, this has been a chance for investors to look at that area and, with an eye toward the possibilities, create some spectacular housing and vacation rental opportunities that would immediately impact the hospitality sector downtown.” As the recipient of its own portion of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic-relief package, the city is planning to allocate some of that