Quincy mayor Koch's letter

The city of Quincy stands at the precipice of a great renaissance. As mayor, I am proud of the foundation of opportunity we have created, and we stand ready to help you make our community home to your business. Our 27 mile coastline, our great history as the birthplace of two American presidents, our thriving commercial districts, and our proximity to Boston and access to public transportation make our city a natural hub for investment. Most importantly, this city has made it a priority to open our doors to entrepreneurs, small businesses and major office and industrial users through streamlined permitting, open access to government agencies, and in a number of cases, property tax incentives required to spur investment and job creation. In just the last 12 months, Bluefin Robotics, the New England Aquarium, Boston Scientific, Lowes Home Improvement Centers, BJs Wholesale Club, and Griffith Properties have invested millions of dollars and created hundreds of jobs in our community. And we are just getting started. Our historic $1.2 billion Quincy Center development plan has won approval from our city council, and we are moving forward with the vital permitting and private leasing negotiations with our development partner, Street-Works Development, LLC. This unprecedented opportunity turns traditional urban redevelopment on its head by requiring the private developer to take the risk on $227 million in public infrastructure improvements, which the city will only "buy back" when the private development is complete and producing enough new tax revenue to cover city bonds. This city is proud to offer a skilled work force, extensive transportation networks, a variety of goods and services, an abundance of recreational opportunities, and an expanding tourism industry. Whether you are considering establishing or relocating a retail, professional or industrial business, Quincy has the support systems to help you grow and prosper. I encourage you to visit our city and become a part of an exciting and dynamic era that is making Quincy a premier choice to live, work, learn, and invest in. Thomas Koch is the mayor of Quincy, Mass.