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What did you pay for?
May 25, 2010

I hope you’ll join us at 8 a.m. on June 8 at UB’s Center for the Arts for What’s What: The Partnership’s Annual Report to Members.

As the Partnership closes our fiscal year at the end of June, it’s time to report to our members – about 2,500 local employers who collectively fund the work we do each year – what your investment with us yielded during the past 12 months.

In the face of hard financial decision making this past year, local CEOs, owners, executive directors, branch managers and other leaders determined investing in the Partnership was a wise use of their resources.

Partnership work often is focused on the “big picture” – aggressively pursuing radical changes to an Albany culture that makes New York one of the worst states in which to run a business (or receive a tax bill); developing and implementing action agendas that support five specific growing industry sectors in our region; forming a coalition with like-minded organizations in 14 Great Lakes states to amplify our voices in Washington, D.C.

Other times, it’s focused on specific issues with an impact on the regional employer community. While you are focused on your business, we’re playing offense and defense for you – blocking and tackling (and ranting and writing and calling and knocking on doors) – on your behalf. During the past 12 months, we have taken action on more than 80 proposals, some good, most bad, to ensure the employer prospective is brought to bear when public decisions are made.

But you’re also helping the region grow when you fund our work to help individual members, one at a time.

• A targeted marketing effort developed by Partnership staff, got a local company in front of a select group of hot leads – and helped it close a big deal.
• A meeting with a state senator – set up by Partnership staff – helped a member secure a grant that was used to expand its facility on the West Side of Buffalo.
• Attendance at Partnership events yielded a pocket full of business cards for more than one member – which led to a roster of new clients.
• A company’s HR manager can focus on staff professional development plans now that the burden of administering employee benefits has shifted to Partnership staff.

Your investment with us also supports Partnership work that helps a company across town stay open, or a few dozen young professionals commit to growing their career here, or an entrepreneur access marketplace data that helps her launch a new product. All of this helps the region as a whole grow, and that’s good for your business.

Thank you for your on-going support. I hope to see you June 8 to hear more about what your investment with the Partnership has accomplished.

Andrew J. Rudnick