First Niagara Donates to Downtown Manchester Special Services District Business Recruitment Efforts

The following is a press release from the Downtown Manchester Special Services District and First Niagara: 

The Downtown Manchester Special Services District (DMSSD) today announced it has received a $4,000 grant from First Niagara Bank in support of its mission to attract new businesses to Downtown Manchester. In addition, the money will be used to help make technology upgrades within the DMSSD office.

In December of 2011, First Niagara funded the Town of Manchester’s Downtown Market Study, which was designed to gain insight needed to reposition Manchester’s Downtown District for future growth. First Niagara’s continued support will now allow DMSSD to use the results of this study to develop and produce a Business Recruitment Packet – a tool designed to encourage local businesses to relocate or establish themselves in Downtown Manchester.

“DMSSD will utilize these materials to recruit new businesses, bringing additional revenue and foot traffic to our existing Downtown business community,” noted DMSSD Chairman, Ed Firestone.

Materials include a professionally designed and produced presentation portfolio, and three brochures highlighting general business, retail and restaurant opportunities in Downtown Manchester. The Business Recruitment Packet will be used by a Recruitment Committee and other boosters for outreach to prospective targets.

“As one of nearly 200 businesses located in Downtown Manchester, First Niagara is committed to supporting efforts to maintain and enhance the vitality of this area,” said First Niagara Market Executive and SVP of Commercial Lending, James Bzdyra. “We look forward to working with the Downtown Manchester Special Services District as it recruits business owners to join our community.”

In addition to the development of the Business Recruitment Packet, First Niagara’s support allowed DMSSD to replace aging computer equipment and software, which were beginning to negatively impact productivity and program delivery. “First Niagara’s grant has provided our organization with the technology needed to operate more efficiently, improving the delivery of services to our constituents,” said DMSSD Manager Tana Parseliti.

About the Downtown Manchester Special Services District

The Downtown Manchester Special Services District (DMSSD) is a special downtown taxing district created in 1991 under Chapter 105A of the Connecticut General Statues to promote the economic and general welfare of the citizens of Manchesterand especially the property owners and tenants of the downtown district. Property owners pay an additional mill rate on real property that is set annually.  These additional funds are set-aside to be used to manage, maintain and promote the District. For more information visit www.downtownmanchester.org. 

About First Niagara

First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank with nearly 430 branches, approximately $37 billion in assets, $28 billion in deposits, and approximately 6,000 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com.