Mayor Bill Saffo says Wilmington’s economy ‘strong’

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Mayor Bill Saffo had good news for the city Wilmington. In his State of the City Address Saffo talked about a number of big projects going on in the Port City that are pushing economic growth.

Mayor Saffo said Wilmington’s economy is not just recovering, it’s growing. He said the number of building permits issued in the City is up, the City’s unemployment rate is lower than state and national averages and the City is seeing consistent growth.

The Mayor said Wilmington’s budget is balanced and the economy is strong. There has been more than $312 million worth of development in downtown alone, which includes $36 million Cape Fear Community College’s performing arts center.

Saffo said this development isn’t just for those who live in Wilmington but it’s adding to the tourism industry.

“Coming off the heels of Wilmington has the most popular Riverwalk in the country; our tourism industry continues to grow,” said Saffo.

Some upcoming projects Saffo talked about were North Front Street projects like the Marina and Waterfront Park.

Another topic that was discussed was crime. He said while the City has seen record low crime rates continuously there has been a spike in violent crimes. He said they will continue to put more resources toward that issue.