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Read the latest news and insights from the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. Or log into the Member Portal to subscribe to the BNP Brief newsletter and Advocacy Alerts.

10.6.21 Advocacy Alert: Comptroller’s Report Warns of UI Rate Increases

By growthzone | Oct 6, 2021 | Comments Off on 10.6.21 Advocacy Alert: Comptroller’s Report Warns of UI Rate Increases

Unless the state swiftly acts, New York employers may soon face significant unemployment insurance rate increases.

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently released a report detailing the dire financial status of the state’s UI system, confirming concerns that the BNP raised this summer.

Workforce & Labor Concerns Dominate BNP’s annual Member Pulse Report

By growthzone | Oct 2, 2021 | Comments Off on Workforce & Labor Concerns Dominate BNP’s annual Member Pulse Report

The Partnership’s annual Advocacy & Member Survey is designed to identify pain points, areas of concern, and obstacles to growth. We have summarized the 2021 results in the Member Pulse Report.

According to the survey, the top concern of Buffalo Niagara employers is their difficulty finding and retaining qualified talent.

Carlisle Lipke, 2021 BN360 Spotlight Professional

By growthzone | Oct 1, 2021 | Comments Off on Carlisle Lipke, 2021 BN360 Spotlight Professional

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is pleased to present Carlisle Lipke, a 2022 BN360 Spotlight Professional.

9.28.21 Advocacy Alert: NYS To Raise Minimum Wage

By growthzone | Sep 28, 2021 | Comments Off on 9.28.21 Advocacy Alert: NYS To Raise Minimum Wage

The New York State Department of Labor announced a forthcoming increase in the minimum wage across upstate New York.

On December 31, the minimum wage in our region will rise to $13.20 per hour, a 70-cent increase from the current rate.

Staff Spotlight: Meet Josh Veronica

By growthzone | Sep 28, 2021 | Comments Off on Staff Spotlight: Meet Josh Veronica

Josh Veronica is our Manager of Government Affairs and Economic Development.

His role at the BNP is to keep members informed of relevant updates on local, state, and federal government and to understand the needs and concerns of employers in the region.

9/24/21 Webisode: Navigating the New Federal Vaccine Mandate for Employers

By growthzone | Sep 27, 2021 | Comments Off on 9/24/21 Webisode: Navigating the New Federal Vaccine Mandate for Employers

President Joe Biden recently announced a new mandate requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require weekly testing of unvaccinated workers.

9.20.21 Advocacy Alert: Border Closure Extended Through October

By growthzone | Sep 20, 2021 | Comments Off on 9.20.21 Advocacy Alert: Border Closure Extended Through October

This morning, the U.S. federal government announced that it will be extending its closure to Canadian travelers through October 21.

Non-essential Canadian travelers have been banned from entering the U.S. since March 2020. Despite calls from the BNP, numerous members of Congress, and chambers across the nation to open the border, the Biden administration has not relented in its approach – even after Canada opened its doors to American travelers in August.

9.9.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Biden To Mandate “Vax or Test” Requirement for Large Employers

By growthzone | Sep 9, 2021 | Comments Off on 9.9.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Biden To Mandate “Vax or Test” Requirement for Large Employers

Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would repeal the state’s mask mandate, effective today. However, her announcement did not proactively address how the repeal coincided with the NY HERO Act, which would have required employees in most workplaces to continue masking.

9.7.21 Advocacy Alert: Hochul Triggers HERO Act – Employer Checklist

By growthzone | Sep 7, 2021 | Comments Off on 9.7.21 Advocacy Alert: Hochul Triggers HERO Act – Employer Checklist

Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease,” citing rising case numbers and concerns about the delta variant. This declaration is significant because it triggers the NY HERO Act.

BNP Advocacy Insider – September 2021

By growthzone | Sep 7, 2021 | Comments Off on BNP Advocacy Insider – September 2021

The September 2021 Advocacy Insider is a roundup of important issues we are monitoring that could you and your business.