We all know how important it is to grow Buffalo from a grassroots standpoint, and an economic standpoint. For the last ten or so years we have seen Buffalo blossom as a city that is both desirable to work in and live in. One of the driving factors for businesses to relocate or expand into a city is the quality of life for its employees. If the employees are happy, then the business will operate better, plain and simple. There are numerous considerations on top of that, including proximity to other cities, transportation, cost of living, workforce, etc.
Now that we have built the groundwork, making Buffalo a cultural and fun-loving destination, it’s time to entice more businesses to take a look at Buffalo. As we continue to shed our image of a beat up Rust Belt city, Buffalo is becoming a place to consider when looking for fertile grounds to build or expand. In order to hep companies make the decision easier, Invest Buffalo Niagara (IBN) has developed a 90 page relocation guide for the region – Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming. The guide gives an overview of Buffalo’s numerous assets, including real estate, education, public utilities, seasonal attractions, culture, transportation, health care, and employment.
“Our region has seen remarkable economic development activity in recent years, and as a business attraction organization, we aim to capitalize on that momentum to continue to drive growth,” said Tom Kucharski, president and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara. “We offer this guide as an encyclopedia of Buffalo Niagara’s many cultural, economic, and geographical assets. It’s a valuable tool in our work to attract new business and will help companies attract new employees. As a region we’ll reach new audiences and tell Buffalo Niagara’s story as a great place to live and work.”
IBN is a nonprofit, privately funded economic development organization that is dedicated to growing Buffalo’s economy, by catering to the needs of companies that might be interested in a relocation strategy. If the head of a company likes what he or she is hearing and seeing, then there’s a better chance of Buffalo being a consideration. The guide is filled with statistics, images, community figure profiles, geographic points of interest, and plenty of resources.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for local employers to attract qualified talent to their workforces,” said Kucharski. “By compiling stories of success from ex-pats, re-pats, area entrepreneurs—and sharing compelling workforce and industry statistics—we hope people from outside the region will see it in the same captivating light that we do.”
The Relocation Guide includes the following themes:
Welcome to a Great Life
Buffalo Niagara’s location within New York State and close proximity to Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and Toronto is demonstrated in a map of the Northeastern region of the U.S. For Buffalo Niagara, an overview of each of the eight counties is provided as well as descriptions of the cities, towns, and neighborhoods within each.
A Place to Call Home
Information about the region’s housing market, renting, home buying and home building resources, as well as senior living information and a moving checklist.
More to Learn
Area public school districts and the private and charter systems, including enrollment requirements, rankings, and NYS educational assessment information, are summarized. One of Buffalo’s most unique educational initiatives—Say Yes to Education—is explained in detail, child care and after school programs are included, and higher education institutions are listed and labeled within a map.
Settle in for While
For those who have relocated to Buffalo, resource information is catalogued for the DMV, public safety, pet information, banks, utilities, voter registration, libraries, broadcast TV channels, and AM/FM radio stations. A cost of living comparison chart is also included.
Celebrate all Seasons
The guide details attractions for every season, tips for what to wear, and weather statistics related to average temperature, mean snowfall and rainfall, and elevation.
Life as it Should Be
Arts and cultural institutions are listed along with Buffalo Niagara’s professional sports teams, shopping destinations, the region’s food and drink specialties, the Olmsted park system, waterfronts and waterways—including Niagara Falls. There is also a section dedicated to Canadian get-aways (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Wine Trail, Toronto, etc.).
A list of Buffalo Niagara’s modes of transportation is provided: airports, trains, Thruway travel, and public transportation. A special section focuses on bicycle offerings including bike paths, bike clubs, and group megacycles.
Healthy Living
The guide lists recommendations for ways to find doctors, insurers, urgent care facilities, hospitals, specialized healthcare facilities, and a map of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
Love What You Do
Economic statistics, such as salaries and wages, Buffalo Niagara’s top businesses, leading business sectors, and chambers of commerce are listed, as well as employment resources, entrepreneurial resources, and a section entitled “Starting a Business Here.”
The guide was produced with grant support from Invest Buffalo Niagara investors National Grid and NYSEG. View the electronic version or have your company request a hard copy on www.BuffaloNiagara.org or by contacting Alexandra Williams, Senior Administrator /Investor Relations Coordinator at awilliams@buffaloniagara.org or 1-716-541-1708.