The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) is shifting its focus towards supporting local businesses rather than attracting major employers, as discussed in the recent Governance Committee meeting. Officials emphasized the importance of filling storefronts and responding to the needs of local employers through visitation programs and resource facilitation.

"We're not really in a position to attract... major employers," one committee member stated, highlighting the city's current strategy of prioritizing local economic support over tax incentives or exemptions. This approach aims to strengthen the community by fostering local entrepreneurship and addressing the concerns of existing businesses.

The meeting also touched on the challenges faced during the management of homeless encampments, with members acknowledging the costs incurred from previous efforts that went unreimbursed. "When members of council want to redo something that's already been done for no particular reason, there's a cost to it," a committee member noted, underscoring the impact of such decisions on the agency's functionality.

A significant point of discussion was the IURA's operational limitations, which are confined to the city of Ithaca. Questions arose regarding the potential for collaboration with the town or county through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). The agency's scope, defined by state law, restricts its special powers—such as property acquisition and sales—to city limits, although collaboration outside these boundaries is still possible.

As the IURA continues to navigate these challenges, the focus remains on enhancing local business support and exploring collaborative opportunities to strengthen the Ithaca community.