Published: June 16, 2008 10:45 pm            

CITY COUNCIL: Familiar face returns to City Hall

Ex-Councilwoman Fran Iusi named biz development director

Fran Iusi started her career as a temporary account clerk at Niagara Falls City Hall.

Exactly 33 years later, she spent her first day back Monday as the city’s new director of business development.

Iusi, who also served four years on the City Council and has more than 25 years of management experience, was appointed to the $55,000 annual position by her former council colleague Mayor Paul Dyster. While the position has been redefined in recent weeks, Iusi is replacing former NFC Director Ralph Aversa, who retired in April.

“Fran has many years of experience in all of the right fields,” Dyster said after introducing Iusi to the council at Monday’s worksession. “She’s going to do a really good job for us.”

As director of business development, Iusi will be responsible for NFC Development Corp. and the Niagara Falls Urban Renewal Agency, will coordinate the Empire Zone and renewal community activities and will administer business development loans through NFC, the city’s Community Development Department or from city casino revenues. The position had fallen under the jurisdiction of the URA and NFC, but councilmembers approved switching it to a city position earlier this month.

“It will allow for greater accountability,” Dyster said.

Iusi will also oversee the city’s Entrepreneurial School for potential business owners, which has secured funding for a second year.

She earned an accounting degree from Niagara County Community College and a bachelor of science degree in commerce and management from Niagara University. She also has post-graduate work in banking.

Her experience includes working in the accounting area for Tops Markets for 14 years and most recently as a sales analysis of a local manufacturing consultant.

Iusi said it was strange returning to City Hall as a full-time employee after three decades, but she’s glad to be back and optimistic about extending the city’s portfolio of loans to assist business, both large and small.

“I think in the past we’ve had trouble attracting the larger business so we’ve focused more on mom-and-pop businesses,” she said. “But no matter what size it is, business is business — the important thing is they’re creating jobs.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.