The large tobacco warehouses served to publicize the companies and the benevolence of their owners. Agrinio benefited greatly from the generosity of its tobacco merchants, some of whom undertook extensive philanthropic projects. Some donated their wealth to the municipality (the merchant Ilias Iliou), while others served as mayors and carried out public works, including the construction of an airport and refugee settlements, water supply networks, etc. The Papastratos family endowed the city with impressive schools, a library (that eventually became the archaeological museum), and a park. They also funded infrastructure projects such as electric lighting.