The Buffalo Niagara Partnership (BNP) 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 policymakers, 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 BNP 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:
- Buffalo Building Reuse Project (BBRP) – We are part of a public/private effort seeking to make downtown Buffalo more competitive for private investment.
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 BNP 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.
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.
- BNP 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
TPM: Sizing Up the Right Fit
What’s it like to work a customer service job at a regional employer with immediate openings? Students from 716 Ministries/Trocaire and the Service Collaborative of WNY found out through a day spent visiting with hiring managers from Univera, National Fuel, Wegmans, and Independent Health.
7.28.22 Webisode: Creating Career Pathways
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership knows that hiring is the most common pain point amongst all employers right now, and will be for the foreseeable future. We created the Employ Buffalo Niagara Career Pathways Program to help regional companies attract and retain talent in this challenging job market.
Partners on the Career Path
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership continues to expand the Career Pathways Project as a component of Employ Buffalo Niagara to help connect job seekers to regional careers with tangible growth opportunities. The project was launched in 2021, made possible by a generous grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Foundation.
Comptroller: “Duplication” in State Workforce Efforts
New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently released a report assessing the state Department of Labor’s workforce development efforts. The report found significant overlap, duplication, gaps, and fragmentation in state workforce development programs and services. The audit found that New York offers over 500 workforce development programs and services, administered