Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Mayor Wild Appoints Westland Mall GM to TIFA/EDC Board

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Mayor Wild Appoints Westland Mall GM to TIFA/EDC Board

Westland, MI (July 17, 2018) - On Monday, July 16 the Westland City Council approved Mayor Wild's appointment of Gary Thomas to the Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA)/ Economic Development Corporation (EDC) for a four year term which will expire on July 16, 2022.

Thomas retired from the United States Air Force after 20 years of active duty and possesses an Associates Degree in Business. He relocated to Westland from Saginaw to accept a position as the General Manager of the Westland Shopping Center in October of 2017. Thomas has 14 years of experience in operations and mall management.

"I look forward to working with the City of Wesltand as a member of TIFA/EDC," commented Thomas. "My vision is to incorporate Westland's 5 year plan for the Shop and Dine District with the plans for updating the Westland Shopping Center, attracting National tenants and bringing the mall into the 21st century."

"The Westland Shopping Center and the City's history are intertwined," commented Mayor Wild. "We have an excellent working relationship with the mall and look forward to collaborating with Mr. Thomas on ideas and strategies for economic stimulation and growth in the community and the mall."

The City of Westland TIFA/EDC Board is governed by a nine member board appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The purpose of the Tax Increment Finance Authority /EDC (TIFA) is to promote economic and business development through programs and public improvement projects that create economic opportunity, provide entrepreneurial support, and preserve property values. Regularly scheduled board meetings take place the second Tuesday of every other month at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall and are open to the public.

If you are interested in serving on a Westland board or comission, you can find a complete list of vacancies, information, requirements and explanations on each and an application on www.cityofwestland.com by clicking on the "Get Involved" icon. Applications can be submitted electronically or paper applications can be printed from the website and dropped off at Westland City Hall.

For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.