310 jobs are coming downtown thanks to First Niagara, who announced they will be moving corporate headquarters from Lockport to the LCo building, where they currently lease office space. Their place in Lockport will serve as a central back office operation center. First Niagara currently employs 1,100 people in Erie and Niagara counties. Empire State Development has earmarked a $1.3 million grant to First Niagara.
With this move and the moves of other businesses downtown, Seneca Street is set to undergo a serious upgrade, enhancing the streetscape and beautifying the entrance to the Larkin District. First Niagara and Larkin Development are currently in talks to create residential development in the area, believing jobs and homes are the key to revitalization.
According to Empire State Development CEO Dennis M. Mullen, “First Niagara’s move will greatly enhance the re-emerging, historic Larkin District as a central business neighborhood in downtown Buffalo by bringing in a significant number of jobs that will provide additional economic resources to support retail, housing, and other commercial developments in the area. This is huge in terms of job creation, business investment, and downtown redevelopment.”