The Lancaster Industrial Development Agency (LIDA) contracted Economic Assessment / Feasibility Study, prepared by ConsultEcon, Inc., approved by narrow LIDA board vote, has been placed on the LIDA website for public review.

As someone who did consultant work after retiring, I was interested in reviewing the contract and was amazed at the content scheduled for review, contacts scheduled, analysis and documentation, meetings, etc. All for $74,480, over a 4–6-month period.

Feasibility Study Purpose

In 2018, the Town of Lancaster and Villages of Lancaster and Depew came together to craft a Joint Comprehensive Plan for the three jurisdictions. Although the Joint Comprehensive Plan was adopted four years ago, the communities have only made modest progress in implementing the plan’s recommendations. This is due to multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in local leadership, and shifting priorities. At this time, the Lancaster Industrial Development Agency (LIDA) is looking to prepare a targeted Economy Assessment / Feasibility Study that provides a deeper understanding of the demographic, economic, real estate, and tourism market conditions that will impact the scale, pace, and character of future development. This examination will consider both short- and longer-term strategies for shaping growth and change in the Lancaster-Depew community’s commercial, residential, industrial, and rural areas.

Comment

Change in local leadership and priorities? At this time, the Lancaster Industrial Development Agency (LIDA) is looking to prepare a targeted Economy Assessment / Feasibility Study that provides a deeper understanding of the demographic, economic, real estate, and tourism market conditions that will impact the scale, pace, and character of future development. Are Town and Village Town / Planning / Zoning Boards failing the community?

Are we about to further expand the purpose and limits of an IDA to include projects that benefit the IDA applicant while offering the community little, if anything, in return. An agency that was established in the 1960’s and named ‘Industrial Development’ to aid industrial and commercial enterprise, one that prohibited even retail development until 1993, and is now being sold to Lancaster’s IDA by Mayor Ruda as simply ‘economic development’.


Marigold Consulting LLC

The contract was prepared by: ConsultEcon, Inc. in Association With: Marigold Consulting. Marigold’s work with the LIDA will be conducted by founder and President Ms. Deepali McCloe. Ms. McCloe will serve as the local presence for the project team. She will participate in the kickoff meeting and site tour; work closely with ConsultEcon during Task 1 to convey her local knowledge and to review existing literature; design and lead the stakeholder engagement tasks; and contribute to interim and final deliverables.

Ms. McCloe’s experience crosses multiple sectors and regulatory processes including but not limited to sustainability, renewable energy, ecological restoration, transportation and infrastructure and remediation; environmental justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion; public involvement and risk communication; strategic and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) planning.

Can’t wait to see how this actually fits into Lancaster’s IDA purpose and goals.

Task 2.5: Final Report

In this task we will produce a narrative report that compiles and presents research and analysis from all preceding tasks. The report will be integrated into a single document with the report from Activity 1. It will summarize findings and present recommended short- and long-term action steps for the Lancaster IDA and the three municipalities to take to achieve their mutual goals for transformational economic and community development change. Actions will include suggested policy, regulatory, investment, and marketing initiatives.

Comment

Hope to see progress reports livestreamed as any change affecting LIDA direction and purpose has the potential to impact taxpayer pocketbooks. Hearing ‘job creation is nice but no longer the primary criteria’ in an IDA application is worrisome.

LIDA Contract Obligation

The scope of the consultant’s study is astounding. When reading the ‘Client’s Responsibilities’ in the contract’s STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS, LIDA will also be undertaking a significant number of tasks and responsibilities. Who will be driving the bus, collecting requested data, analyzing report data and informing the public of the study's usefulness in determining an IDA's application merit.

Who cares, it doesn't cost the taxpayer a dime, right. Ya think!