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Committee considers how to market benefits of Williamsport

City Council’s ad-hoc committee on the residency ordinance met Monday to go over a strategy on how to better market Williamsport.

Ideas were tossed around by the council committee and guests, including Jason Fink, executive director of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

The city has no residency requirements other than for those who are elected.

Many police and firefighters choose not to live in the city, but some do, according to Chief of Police Damon R. Hagan, who lives in the city.

One way to attract a new generation of workers and entice existing workers to consider moving here is to improve housing, with new rentals and single-family dwellings, Fink said.

He also recognized that demolition, where appropriate, of properties for the purpose of bringing mixed-use (residential and commercial) developments is another draw.

Conducting an inventory of commercial and residential properties to entice developers also might be completed, he said.

Slowly but surely, the marketing strategy to get more workers to want to make the city their home is working, said Councilwoman Bonnie Katz, committee chairwoman.

New partners in the endeavor should include the Williamsport Area School District, Lycoming College and UPMC Susquehanna, the committee stated.

Fink said the chamber is pushing for federal opportunity zones and tax abatement for commercial and residential development.

He said the city is ripe for developing condominiums and new rental units.

“This generation wants to leave its market on the city,” Fink said.

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