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Business Development – Employer Outreach Program
December 22, 2009

Business development – retaining and growing existing Buffalo Niagara employers – is one of the Partnership’s core objectives, along with Advocacy and Convening (our “ABC’s”). We undertake this primarily through a series of initiatives designed to help individual employers and clusters of employers in the region to succeed.

This year, we consciously expanded one of those business development initiatives - our Employer Outreach Program (EOP) – dedicating significantly more staff to one-on-one meetings with Buffalo Niagara employers, both members and not. Since September 1, Partnership staff has held 175 such meetings, and I want to share with you some of the already beneficial outcomes:

• Successful opposition to the proposed NYS “Consumer Credit Fairness Act” at the request of two employers in the collections industry.
• Connected a Cheektowaga manufacturer with local and state elected officials to discuss increased taxes on energy only to find out they were eligible for a host of state job creation programs
• Facilitated successful entry into the state’s Brownfields Cleanup Program for another Cheektowaga manufacturer’s expansion project
• Increased membership in the Buffalo Niagara 360 program – and more 360 members engaged in Partnership advocacy and other initiatives
• Numerous advocacy opportunities having been identified by members (e.g. 18A energy assessments, federal immigration policy, NYS proposed Farm Workers Bill, NYS proposed trucking restrictions, smoke detector requirements, a number of NYSDEC regulations)
• Employers’ feedback was instrumental in developing the Partnership’s target industry sector “action agendas”
• Many companies reducing their benefits costs (while increasing their offerings) through the Partnership’s Bright Choices employee insurance program
• Greater engagement by members in advocacy issues – including their testimony at this fall’s Unshackle Upstate public hearing on the state budget

Via these EOP meetings, the Partnership is facilitating many new connections among members (especially in target industry groups), between members and elected officials, and between members and regional economic development organizations.

The Partnership Employer Outreach Program will continue to grow in 2010. Indeed, our goal is to meet directly with as many of our 2,500 members who want to do so. Thus, we’re looking forward to sitting down with you, one-on-one, to find out specifically how the Partnership can help your organization succeed.

As 2009 comes to a close (thank goodness – it hasn’t been an easy or fun year for virtually anyone on the planet, starting with yours truly – indeed the past 12 months seemed like 15 or 20), I want to thank our members for all your feedback and support during the year. Without you, there is no Buffalo Niagara Partnership. Our staff fully understands and appreciates that. And we hope we continue to earn your support going forward.

Sincere best wishes for the holidays and for a successful 2010.

Andrew J. Rudnick