Join Today!

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership plays a key role in the economic development process in the Western New York region. We work to give our members a “seat at the table” with government policy makers, community leaders, area colleges and universities, economic development agencies and other groups to promote and sustain the economic health of the region.

We can think of economic development in the Buffalo Niagara Region as having three legs – land, labor and capital. Like a three-legged stool, all three must work together in balance for the development process to work smoothly and properly for the benefit of businesses in the region.

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership can assist companies in all three categories to help businesses increase their competitiveness and ability to thrive in our local economy, as well as nationally and internationally.

LAND

Land is the natural resource found within our region’s economy, a limited and fixed resource that calls for careful planning to ensure the best use for economic growth and sustainability. Examples of Partnership work as it relates to the land portion of economic development include:

LABOR

Labor represents the human capital aspect of economic development. Human capital includes all able-bodied individuals capable of working in the area’s economy and providing various services to other individuals or businesses. The Partnership is involved in many initiatives aimed at improving our area’s human capital through training, education and other programs. Examples include:

  • Workforce Development – Building and maintaining a quality workforce has been a core component of the Partnership’s mission since its inception.
  • Buffalo Niagara 360 (BN360) – The Partnership’s young professionals program focused on networking, leadership development and community engagement.

CAPITAL

Capital has two definitions as related to economic development. Capital can represent the monetary resources companies use to purchase land and other capital goods. Capital also represents the major physical assets that companies use when producing goods or services. These assets include buildings, production facilities, equipment and other similar items.

The Partnership assists area companies in a number of ways with issues related to capital, including assistance with grant writing for specific programs. Other examples related to capital include:

  • Unshackle Upstate – The Partnership participates in a bipartisan coalition focused on fixing state government, making it more accountable to NY’s taxpayers and creating a stronger region in which to do business.
  • Manufacturer’s Council – The Partnership seeks to develop and create tangible value for our manufacturing members through programming that connects industry peers. The Council provides services that support, promote and assist the advanced manufacturing sector’s growth and expansion in the Buffalo Niagara region.
 

Keeping a leg up in every category

The State of New York, the counties of Erie and Niagara, the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls and the surrounding towns and communities, all share a common goal of fostering economic development in the region. Thus, there are an incredible variety and range of available resources and dedicated organizations to assist companies and employers. The Partnership is here to help.

  • Partnership leadership serves on economic development boards including Buffalo Urban Development Corporation; Erie County Industrial Development Agency; Regional Economic Development Council; Visit Buffalo Niagara; and others
  • We communicate employer impacts of economic development policy decisions
  • We seek alignment of economic development policy at state, regional and local levels
  • We look to reduce duplication, red tape and waste in the economic development process
  • We act as the “go-to” source for information on economic development in the area
  • We promote the economic development vision and competitive advantages of the region as a whole
  • We serve as advocates for our members, keeping a watchful eye on potential negative aspects of economic development policy, while supporting the positive effects

From The Blog

Members-Only Webisode: Capital Conversations – NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

The Partnership October 27, 2020

WATCH Webisode with NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins About this Webinar: The Buffalo Niagara Partnership hosted a Capital Conversations event with New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Thursday, October 22nd. The Majority Leader discussed the fiscal impact of COVID-19 on New York State including options for addressing the state’s massive revenue

Read More »
BNP Poorly Timed Prevailing Wage Expansion

Poorly Timed Prevailing Wage Expansion

Seth Piccirillo April 6, 2020

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York State added a major prevailing wage expansion into the enacted state budget. This decision, long opposed by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and statewide business leaders, will make it even more difficult to attract private sector investment to a state already burdened

Read More »

Setting Pace

Seth Piccirillo March 13, 2020

The Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program is new to Buffalo, created to address long standing problems: high redevelopment and energy efficiency costs. The City of Buffalo passed a local law to establish the Open C-PACE Program on December 19, 2019, joining a group of government entities in 35

Read More »