Ortt announces revolving loan fund for Niagara County

With help of federal representatives, area has been awarded $3.9M to aid in brownfield development

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt on Monday announced that, with the help of federal representatives, Niagara County has been awarded the Revolving Loan Fund of $3.9 million. These monies will help fund the clean-up process of brownfield projects, ranging from cleaning buildings with asbestos or lead contamination, to assessing and cleaning abandoned properties.

After the clean-up is done, these properties can be used for redevelopment.

“As a lifelong North Tonawanda resident and former mayor, I’ve been fortunate to see my hometown and my county evolve with innovative business development; and I’ve seen it reborn with restoration projects,” Ortt said. “We are seeing economic development projects popping up across the county, and incredible development right here in North Tonawanda. Clean and usable land is a bipartisan issue and, when done effectively, the economic development that stems from it can transform a community.”

Ortt’s team said, “The Niagara County Revolving Loan Fund Supplemental Grant of $3.9 million will help spur economic revitalization in North Tonawanda and lead to economic growth, benefitting the lives of New Yorkers across the state.”

Past projects approved include:

√ In 2015, Tulip Molded Plastics Corp. was awarded $1 million that helped award clean up and retain employees in Western New York.

√ In 2017, River’s Edge Apartments received $291,000 that helped build two four-story apartment buildings along the riverfront with town complexes and retail space.

√ Remington Lofts, an old typewriter factory, was converted to a mixed-use development project, and awarded close to $1 million.