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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 20, 2011                                                                                 

ACCELERATE UPSTATE ACTION AGENDA
RELEASED BY BUFFALO NIAGARA PARTNERSHIP  

(BUFFALO, N.Y.)- Buffalo Niagara Partnership today unveiled its Accelerate Upstate Action Agenda as the next step in its efforts to increase economic growth in Upstate New York.  The Action Agenda focuses on eight key themes:

·         A new attitude toward economic development is needed in Albany:

o   Each Regional Economic Development Council should head a more coordinated approach between state and non-state economic development groups.

o   New York State needs to create an environment more attractive for investment by addressing stringent taxes and regulations.

·         Upstate must capitalize on its bi-national location and relationship with Canada:

o   The leadership of both New York State and the Province of Ontario need to convene to increase their working relationship.

o   Both sides of the border need to begin looking toward the future of both entities as a bi-national logistics hub.

·         Workforce development programs need to be appropriately linked to employer needs:

o   The private sector, State leadership, and the federal government must work together to define future workforce needs and take steps to meet them

o   It is critical that we address both hard and soft skills across the K-12 continuum and into high education.

·         Improved access to working capital is required for innovators and entrepreneurs to grow businesses:

o   New York State can and should allocate additional funds for early-stage technology companies.

o   Regional chambers of commerce should serve as matchmakers between private sector investors and startup companies.

·         Both higher education and the private sector can benefit by increasing their relationships with one another:

o   New York State must work with its colleges and universities to make funding available for capital projects and match degree programs with emerging workforce needs.

o   The Higher Education Compact should be reformed to provide schools with more flexibility in implementing curriculum changes.

·         Fresh water resources must be protected, and efforts need to be coordinated with neighboring states and provinces:

o   The federal government should restore funding to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

o   State leadership must engage in Great Lakes issues to ensure New York is prominently considered in future decision making on a national level.

·         The public and private sectors must work more collaboratively across Upstate:

o   New York should implement policy that will facilitate and encourage public-private partnerships.

o   The Governor’s regional offices should be realigned to meet ESD and DOL boundaries (consistent with the new Regional Economic Development Councils).

·          Upstate and Downstate can and need to work together on a wide range of issues:

o   Peers in local governments, business organizations, labor, and employers of all sizes need to collaborate, particularly with respect to issues of common interest such as energy policy, and Upstate “back office” support for Downstate companies.

o   The State would benefit by launching a “Sister City” program to match Upstate and Downstate communities with complementary industries.

The Accelerate Upstate Action Agenda is a result of the Accelerate Upstate conference, which the Buffalo Niagara Partnership hosted this past summer.  As a part of the summit, 250 business, community, and political leaders from across New York State convened to develop specific recommendations for Upstate’s economic future given the demographics of and resulting political imbalance in New York State.  The conference was made possible by the support of numerous sponsors, led by title sponsor BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. 

Notable participants in the conference included Garrick Utley, former NBC News anchor and SUNY Levin Institute President; Amy Liu, Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program Senior Fellow and Deputy Director; John Faso, former NYS gubernatorial candidate, NYS Assemblyman and Buffalo Control Board Member; and Ken Adams, Empire State Development Corporation President & CEO.  In addition, numerous Mayors and County Executives from across New York State developed solutions in a Public Officials Roundtable.  

Andrew J. Rudnick, President & CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, said “we were determined to keep Accelerate Upstate from being just another ‘conversation.’ From the outset, we made it very clear that the conference was about developing a plan of action for the 40,000 miles that comprise Upstate New York.”

The Accelerate Upstate Action Agenda is being delivered to elected officials across New York State as well as to members of the ten New York Regional Economic Development Councils, but according to Rudnick, the action agenda is relevant to all Upstate stakeholders.  “This agenda is more than a roadmap for government leaders,” Rudnick said, “but it is for all of us - job creators, job seekers, organized labor, community organizations and others. If we are to truly revitalize Upstate's economy, it's clear that we all have to look in the mirror and commit to acting differently in the future.”

The Accelerate Upstate Action Agenda is available on the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s website at www.thepartnership.org/accelerateupstate

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ABOUT THE BUFFALO NIAGARA PARTNERSHIP

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership includes nearly 2,500 employer members, working for improved business competitiveness and expanded economic activity in the region.  The Partnership advocates, locally, and in Albany, and Washington, D.C., for policies and resources to increase private sector investment and jobs. The Partnership also offers programs and services to its members to increase their chances for business success.