Industry Overview
The manufacturing industry has strong roots in Western New York. Today, local manufacturers face new challenges as the industry continues to grow. The Partnership helps companies navigate the business environment while addressing their advocacy and workforce development needs.
Our mission includes:
- Develop and grow Buffalo Niagara’s manufacturing industry
- Highlight and address the primary challenges manufacturers face
- Raise awareness of the importance of the manufacturing section to the region’s economy
- Help manufacturers meet their current and future workforce development needs
Top Initiatives for 2020:
-
TAXES & REGULATIONS
- Lower Taxes
- Expand zero percent corporate franchise tax to small
manufacturers not currently covered under exemption
- Expand zero percent corporate franchise tax to small
- Climate Action Council (CAC)
- Ensure employer impacts are considered as the CAC implements
the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act – the
most sweeping and aggressive climate law in the country.
Manufacturers and other industries vital to Buffalo Niagara’s
economy must continue to have reliable access to affordable
energy as the state mandates a transition to renewables.
- Ensure employer impacts are considered as the CAC implements
- Protect Employers in Marijuana Legalization
- Ensure efforts to legalize the adult use of recreational
marijuana fully protect an employer’s right to operate a
drug-free workplace
- Ensure efforts to legalize the adult use of recreational
- Lower Taxes
-
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
- Natural Gas Transmission System
- Support development of New York’s natural gas transmission
system to improve reliability, keep consumer prices low, and
spur investment and job creation
- Support development of New York’s natural gas transmission
- Power Grid Upgrades
- Support upgrades to New York’s aging power grid to
improve reliability and ensure Buffalo Niagara’s economy
benefits from moving locally produced electricity downstate
- Support upgrades to New York’s aging power grid to
-
FREE & FAIR TRADE
- United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
- Support the passage of the USMCA to strengthen Buffalo
Niagara’s bi-national economy and vital trade relationship
with Canada
- Support the passage of the USMCA to strengthen Buffalo
- So-called ‘Buy American’ Policy
- Oppose protectionist state contracting policies that
undermine the strength and viability of our integrated crossborder economy
- Oppose protectionist state contracting policies that
-
WORKFORCE & TALENT ATTRACTION
- JOBS Act
- Support passage of the JOBS Act to expand Pell Grant
eligibility to students enrolled in quality, short-term
education and training programs leading to employment in
high-demand industry sectors or careers
- Support passage of the JOBS Act to expand Pell Grant
- Immigration Reform
- Support refugee resettlement in Buffalo Niagara and
oppose efforts to drastically reduce the number of refugees
admitted into the United States - Support comprehensive H-1B visa reform that increases
the number of high-skilled visas issued and allows Buffalo
Niagara to compete for top talent
- Support refugee resettlement in Buffalo Niagara and
- JOBS Act
- United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
- Natural Gas Transmission System
Programming:
Council meetings will cover such topics as:
- Taxes, Regulation & Compliance
- Innovation
- Process Improvement
- Safety & Security
- Workforce Pipeline
- Initiative Engagement
- The latest workforce insight through the Partnership’s Talent Pipeline Management program and employer collaboratives
- Best Practices & Learning
- Business to business work sessions to address key manufacturing issues
- Tour Series
- Insider tours of unique sites important to area’s manufacturing industry
To download the Directory of Available Tax Credits for Western New York Manufacturers, please fill out the form:

Council Leaders

Scott Pallotta
Council Chair
CEO
Zehnder Rittling

Pam Riggins
Vice Chair
Plant General Manager
International Paper
Council Members
- Ashton Potter USA Ltd.
- Bank on Buffalo
- Battistoni Italian Specialty Meats
- Buffalo Games, Inc.
- Buffalo Manufacturing Works, operated by EWI
- Cascades Container Board Packaging
- Cobey, Inc.
- Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England, Inc.
- Curbell Inc.
- Direct Energy Business
- Diversified Labor Solutions
- Eastman Machine Company
- Ebenezer Railcar Services
- General Motors Powertrain
- Great Lakes Pressed Steel Corp.
- Harmac Medical Products
- Harris Beach
- Honeywell
- Ignition Life Solutions
- IIMAK
- International Paper
- LeChase Construction Services, LLC
- Linde, Inc.
- Maclean Curtis, LLC
- Monofrax LLX
- Moog Inc.
- National Grid
- Niacet Corporation
- NOCO Energy Corp.
- PCB Piezotronics, Inc. MTS Systems Corporation
- Penske Truck Leasing
- PeroxyChem
- Power Drives, Inc.
- Remedy Intelligent Staffing
- Rigidized Metals Corp.
- Safetec of America
- Seal & Design Inc.
- Sealing Devices Inc.
- Servotronics, Inc.
- Sherex Fastening Solutions, LLC
- Sonwil Distribution Center, Inc
- SoPark Corporation
- STI-CO Industries, Inc.
- Straight-Forward Consulting, LLC
- Switzer
- Tapecon Inc.
- Taylor Devices, Inc.
- Tectran Manufacturing Inc.
- Tesla
- U.A.W. Local 897
- United Materials, LLC
- Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.
- Wendel
- WSF Industries, Inc.
- Zehnder Rittling
INDUSTRY SPONSORS:
SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
Interested In Joining or Sponsoring?
Want to connect with some of the most engaged manufacturers in the region? Fill out the form below or contact Liz Benkovich at (716) 541-1759 for more information.