As we reflect on the past 12 months at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, it’s clear this year wasn’t just about showing up – it was about stepping up, embracing challenges and achieving milestones.

In 2024, the BNP doubled down on supporting employers and orchestrating the connections that make big things happen. Our mission has not only thrived but flourished this past year.

We’re grateful for the business community's unwavering support, which empowers us to continue this vital work.

So before we dive into 2025, let’s take a look at the highlights from a year packed with progress.

Welcome to BNP @ the cobblestone

We were thrilled to introduce BNP’s new headquarters at our Annual Report to Members event this year. The space at 79 Perry St., located next door to KeyBank Center will be our regional business community’s new hub for convening and connecting.

More than 1,000 BNP members will have access to premium co-working spaces, from a cozy cafe to semi-private desks. State-of-the-art conference rooms will attract teams looking to convene in off-site facilities that emphasize productivity and comfort. And thoughtfully designed event spaces will regularly host programming that attracts leaders from a wide range of backgrounds.

We can’t wait to see you there in 2025! Take a virtual tour of the space here.

Transforming our regional economy

This year brought more great news for the NY SMART I-Corridor, the federal Tech Hub that the BNP is convening alongside peer organizations in Rochester and Syracuse.

Through a highly competitive application process, the NY SMART I-Corridor was selected to receive $40 million in U.S. Department of Commerce funding. Our region’s tech hub was one of only 12 sites to receive significant federal money.

This isn’t just a national spotlight on upstate New York. This is the federal government saying that the I-90 corridor is America’s semiconductor superhighway. By 2033, one in four microchips produced in the United States will be produced within 350 miles of the NY SMART I-Corridor.

Driving legislative agendas

Beyond Tech Hubs, here are some key economic and policy wins from 2024:

• We secured transformational investments by successfully advocating for funding for the FAST NY Shovel-Ready Grant Program that develops vacant sites with the infrastructure needed, the ON-RAMP Program for new workforce development centers in Upstate New York, and Empire AI as the new artificial intelligence research consortium to be housed at UB.
• We held the line against harmful policies that would have decommissioned the natural gas distribution network, fended off a recycling system overhaul that would have added significant new fees and defeated a proposal for statewide rent control.
• We connected employers with those in power at our annual Legislative Lunch that helped shape the state budget, convened a panel of Albany insiders to make sense of the many law changes in the 2024 state budget and met with Leah Halton-Pope and Zeneta Everhart to discuss their visions for the city soon after they were elected.

Expanding membership impact

In 2024, we rolled out several new and game-changing membership levels that support the diverse needs of our members and drive regional growth.

BNP Pro Free, a new tier for locally owned small businesses with five or fewer employees and restaurants of all sizes, launched in April with overwhelming success. Thanks to National Grid’s generous support, over 325 businesses now enjoy free access to networking, seminars, promotional opportunities and more – breaking down financial barriers to success.

Finally, we responded to the growing needs of young professionals with the launch of BNP Young Professional, a free membership program for those under 40. Tailored to help young leaders advance their careers, build connections and engage with the community, this program offers events, resources and the YP Connect Guide – a one-stop resource for plugging into our region and growing professionally.

Fostering inclusive growth

DEI in 2024 still proved to be more than just a moral imperative. It's a business imperative.

This year’s DEI Symposium brought together about 300 executives, HR professionals, managers and staff members from a wide range of business types, sectors and sizes for a half day of engaging and informative sessions. These sessions offered ideas on how organizations can take the next step on their diversity, equity and inclusion journeys.

We unveiled the Employing Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in WNY Assessment that examined the work that was done – and to be done.

We also empowered lasting action with our new DEI Toolkit, an essential resource of proven tools and strategies that provides actionable guidance to simplify the complexities surrounding the implementation of diversity, inclusion and equity practices.

Facilitating workforce solutions

This year, we helped employers tackle their biggest challenge: attracting and keeping top talent. To support our members, we released two free guides packed with actionable strategies and resources to navigate the region’s workforce landscape.

The first, Recruit & Retain, outlines how employers can play a collaborative role in workforce development while providing practical recruitment and retention strategies.

The second, Breaking Through Barriers, takes a deeper dive into overcoming obstacles to workforce participation, offering proven tools to address challenges and unlock new opportunities for talent acquisition.

Together, these guides equip employers to meet workforce demands head-on.

Promoting collective success

In its second year, the Industry Leaders Forum (ILF) continued to unite decision-makers to strategize for the future of their businesses and Buffalo Niagara’s economic growth. This year’s focus was the impact of emerging technology, including opportunities tied to the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub designation. With over 300 companies, 15 strategic partners and 40 thought leaders participating, the nine sector-specific forums we held fostered year-round collaboration and cross-industry solutions.

Creating meaningful connections

As we close the book on 2024, one thing is clear: Great things happen when the right people come together.

With more than 40 events and gatherings convened this year, we brought together the right people into the right rooms to tackle big challenges, share bold ideas and make meaningful connections.

The result? A Buffalo Niagara that’s growing stronger, smarter and more connected as we look to keep the momentum going into 2025.