2007 Regional Agenda Announced

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REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES ANNOUNCED

Collaborative effort of Cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Counties of Erie and Niagara and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership yields the 2007 Regional Agenda

(Buffalo, NY) – The Cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Erie and Niagara Counties and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership rolled out the 2007 Collaborative Regional Agenda Thursday, an economic development “priority list” of state and federal funding and policy requests.

The municipalities and the Partnership worked together to develop the list, which this year emphasizes the region’s commitment to revitalizing formerly industrial sites to make them ready for new projects, and strategically focused economic development in Buffalo Niagara’s urban centers. Other priority items relate to the border, transportation infrastructure, colleges and universities, the Buffalo waterfront, and key state policy reforms that impact economic development projects – and costs to existing local employers – in our region.

Highlights of the 2007 Regional Agenda include requests that would:

• Ensure development of the Buffalo Federal Courthouse at Niagara Square
• Develop new air cargo and new terminal facilities at the Niagara Falls International Airport
• Revitalize industrial sites, including completing the demolition of Spaulding Fibre and making infrastructure improvements at Bethlehem Steel
• Build the Niagara Experience Center, a Niagara Falls tourist attraction that would also serve as a portal for cultural tourism sites throughout the region
• Complete the Chippewa St. to Court St. phase of “Cars on Main Street”
• Fund the Olcott Harbor Breakwater Project to expand waterfront access and promote development opportunities in northern Niagara County
• Reach final decision on Shared Border Management between the U.S. and Canadian governments and accept a new driver’s license or other alternative ID at the northern border instead of a passport
• Create a shovel-ready site at Buffalo’s inner harbor by demolishing Memorial Auditorium
• Fund ECC’s downtown campus Metro Center transportation center and related facilities
• Support annual appropriations for the Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences
• Reduce the cost of doing business in New York State through the proposals of Unshackle Upstate

“Our public-private cooperation has helped our delegation understand that these requests are truly community-wide,” said Erie County Executive Joel A. Giambra. “We're not asking for pork. We've come together to ask for smart but modest public investments for this region.”

Clyde L. Burmaster, Chairman, Niagara County Legislature said, “Niagara County is proud to participate in the development of the 2007 Regional Agenda. The Buffalo Niagara region is taking a tremendous step forward by collectively endorsing projects that are truly regional in scope. Niagara County appreciates the opportunity to be part of an agenda that focuses on high-impact development initiatives that promise to yield significant long-term benefits and quality-of-life improvements for our region.”

“The focus of the 2007 Regional Agenda comes from a collaborative effort that demonstrates the shared interests and goals of our regional partners,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown. “Our successes of the past year have positioned us for continued growth and development, which will be strengthened by achieving the objectives that are outlined in the Regional Agenda.  I look forward to working with our public and private sector partners in advancing the key elements of the Agenda.”

“Sometimes our region’s municipalities are described as having a ‘friendly rivalry,’ but today it can only be described as a ‘team effort,’” said Niagara Falls Mayor Vince Anello.  “The 20 miles from downtown Niagara Falls to downtown Buffalo should highlight for all of us the potential synergy of place we all enjoy.”

“Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Erie County and Niagara County have looked beyond their municipal boundaries and focused on initiatives that will benefit the region as a whole,” said Andrew J. Rudnick, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.  “The items on our collaborative list will have the largest return on investment for economic development spending, and will make Buffalo Niagara stronger, and better equipped to retain and attract jobs and private sector investment – something people from every sector, political party and municipality want to see happen here.”