Mayor: Lockport continues to grow

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Updated: March 1, 2012 8:32AM

LOCKPORT — The city is financially sound during trying economic times, and 2011 was a year of new business arrivals and other significant achievements, Mayor Dev Trivedi said on Friday at the annual State of the City address.

The city has a surplus of approximately $1.8 million in its general fund, and the water and sewer enterprise fund is balanced, Trivedi told a large audience at the Public Landing restaurant in downtown Lockport.

Trivedi credited City Administrator Tim Schloneger, who received applause from the audience of government, business and education leaders.

Also, the city has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, an honor given by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

“This is a tremendous achievement,” Trivedi said. “This particular thing did not come just around the corner: You have to have your finances in very good shape, and you’ve got to have a vision for the future.”

Business recognition

Trivedi commended Berkot’s Super Foods, which opened a Lockport location in 2011, at 500 Summit Drive in the former Kmart plaza on the Route 7 business corridor.

“This is a tremendous grocery store which has become a pillar of the community,” Trivedi said, mentioning the store’s work with the city and the Lockport FISH Food Pantry.

Trivedi awarded Berkot’s the “We Care Business of the Year” award for going above and beyond in giving back to the community.

Another major Route 7 redevelopment is the Corwin Pharmacy, a project that is continuing in 2012.

“This retail center, as it stands currently, is 85 percent occupied. We have about 8,000 or 9,000 square feet left,” Trivedi said.

Also on the Route 7 corridor, an immediate care center is set to open in April on 159th Street just west of the Interstate 355 tollway.

Despite a lagging national economy, Lockport had an impressive list of more than 17 new businesses arriving in 2011, Trivedi said.

Growth areas

Trivedi discussed the three hubs for economic growth in Lockport: the historic downtown; 159th Street; and the 143rd Street interchange on I-355. This is where the growth is happening, and continued growth is expected.

Trivedi also mentioned the Chevron property, just north and west of downtown. Cogent Energy Solutions is proposing a crude-oil depot on 15 acres of the Chevron property, and the city council is set to vote on the concept plan Wednesday.

Among his concluding remarks, Trivedi said: “Moving forward in 2012, there are many challenges. I’m not going to say the challenges aren’t there. I pledge to work with everyone involved — including all the officials I’ve talked about, from the federal level to the local level — to bring more economic development to the city of Lockport.”