The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the joint State-City agency responsible for overseeing the revitalization of Lower Manhattan, is seeking public comment on a draft plan that provides financial assistance to residents of Lower Manhattan who agree to remain in the area while also creating financial incentives to attract new residents. The Plan also makes available job training grants for businesses south of 14th Street. The Plan is now subject to a 20-day public comment period.

In order to solicit comments on the Plan, the LMDC is placing advertisements in the City's major daily newspapers, and community and foreign language newspapers serving the downtown area. The Plan can also be downloaded from several locations on the Internet, including the Empire State Development Corporation, www.nylovesbiz.com and the NYC Economic Development Corporation, www.newyorkbiz.com/wtc.

Copies of the Plan will be available to the public on Friday, February 22nd at the following locations (a list of locations is also available through 1-800-ILOVENY):

* Battery Park City Authority
* Downtown Alliance, 120 Broadway, Suite 3340
* The New York City Partnership, One Battery Park Plaza, 5th Floor
* World Trade Center Business Recovery Centers, 2 Rector Street and 140 William Street
* Empire State Development New York City Offices at 633 Third Avenue (Lobby) between 40th & 41st
* Community Board 1, 51 Chambers Street, Suite 429
* Community Board 3, 5 East 4th Street
* New York Public Library located at 42nd Street & 5th Avenue, and at the Murray Street/New Amsterdam regional branch at 9 Murray Street

Comments on the Plan must be received no later than March 13, 2002 and may be submitted via e-mail to LMDC@empire.state.ny.us or by mail to:

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation
Invitation for Public Comment
Draft Assistance Plan for Individuals
c/o Empire State Development Corporation
P.O. Box 4438
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10017