Save the Date for BN360’s Shindig!

Please join us on August 18th for BN360’s annual signature event, the Shindig! We are looking forward to starting off our 3rd year of programming with another exciting event. First beginning with our launch party at the Electric Tower, our annual events have drawn over 500 attendees each in the last two years. Many of our members and business community leaders view this event as the highlight of the BN360 program calendar because of the diversity of attendees that it attracts. From Presidents and CEOs, young professionals just starting out, and everyone in between, the Shindig will be an excellent opportunity to expand your network.

BN360 is focused on providing learning and networking opportunities at each of our events. By being an active member you can quickly expand your personal and professional contacts. Whether you are in the business of making new connections, are new to the area and want to make new friends, or your company likes to be seen as an attractive place to work, you will want to join us. Please click here for more info and to register.

In the meantime, practice your “elevator pitch”, get your business cards ready, and check out some of the networking tips listed on BN360’s website. We look forward to seeing you there!

DISCLOSE Act Fails in Senate

Probably one of the more important advocacy victories the U.S. business community has achieved, the DISCLOSE Act failed an MTP (Motion-to-Proceed) vote in the U.S. Senate this afternoon. The motion required 60 votes to move DISCLOSE - which among other things would have imposed burdensome restrictions on corporations' political involvement while not imposing those same restrictions on unions - to the Senate for a vote. It failed 57-41.

The Partnership has weighed in on DISCLOSE a number of times in conjunction with a nationwide effort organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - including challenging Senator Schumer (Senate sponsor of the bill) directly on it when he visited the Partnership last week. The legislation is nothing more than an attempt to tip the political scale toward Democrat incumbents in the mid-term elections this fall by silencing the business community. The legislation is one of the more obvious labor givebacks we've seen, and we are fortunate that the Senate has defeated it - particularly since undoing the lopsided advantage it would've caused would've been a monumental task.

The blatant attempt to keep the business community, which has been critical of the Washington in its current alignment, quiet during the political season will surely be an election issue for many across the nation this year.

Please note that the fight is not over, as immediately after the vote, special interest supporters of DISCLOSE said they will continue to push the legislation, possibly for a lame duck vote after the elections. The Hill quotes Senator Schumer as saying the majority will attempt to “go back at this bill again and again and again until we pass it.” We'll be keeping a close watch.

High Speed Rail Update

Some items of interest in the NY's on-going push for high speed rail funding...

Though Albany seems to not be able to get much done, both houses in the Legislature did pass versions of a bill creating a High Speed Rail Planning Board. The bill, which needs a final vote in the State Senate and Governor Paterson's signature (both of which are expected to be forthcoming), would create a planning board tasked with recommending the best government structure to manage NY's high speed rail project on an on-going basis, as well as funding options. This is a big step in providing validity to NY's HSR goals - it was not coincidence that the recipients of first-round HSR funding in the federal stimulus had governance structures in place.

Phase II of federal high speed rail funding is upon us, however we find ourselves at a disadvantage, as the environmental impact statement for the New York's "Empire Corridor" is not yet complete (it is underway and will be complete within two years). The NYS DOT can apply for $245MM of a total of $2.35B available in this round of funding, and will likely resubmit Phase I projects that were ranked high, but went unfunded when the high speed rail funding ran out. More to follow on which projects will be included in the next ask.

A national high speed rail conference will be held in New York City this fall, and the NYS High Speed Rail Coalition is providing planning assistance and representing Upstate. The Partnership has offered to once again help make the connection of the bi-national interest in high speed rail shared with Canada - we're advocating that the importance of the Buffalo-Toronto HSR line receive its time as a topic at the conference.

Join Comptroller candidate Harry Wilson at the GAC Mixer!

Harry Wilson, the Republican nominee for New York State Comptroller, running against the unelected, Working Families Party-endorsed Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, is the first "New York State candidate" to visit the Partnership this election season (we've met with several candidates for U.S. Senate).

Wilson has a "Why I'm Running" position paper, and the first line is one of the most refreshing we've heard from a candidate in quite some time, he says "I am Running for State Comptroller Because… New York State government has failed us. There is no other way to put it." Wow. Finally a candidate that gets what Upstate New York has been screaming for years. Unsustainable wasteful spending. The highest taxes in the United States. People, and businesses, leaving in droves.

Comptroller DiNapoli's campaign website's headline is “I’m watching every taxpayer dime. It’s your money, and it’s my job to protect it.” Unfortunately, special interests, like the public unions and Working Families Party, that support DiNapoli want to see more of those dimes be taken from taxpayers and wasted in Albany. A former NYS Comptroller once came to Erie County and said the county needed "adult supervision" and his office was the place to provide that supervision. Never before has it been more apparent that the NYS Legislature REQUIRES adult supervision, and DiNapoli isn't providing it. And why should he? As an unelected Comptroller, he was appointed by the very body that requires his supervision.

Wilson, on the other hand, has a novel approach to the Comptroller's duties. In addition to overseeing the State Pension Fund, he believes "the Comptroller has the power to audit every dollar of government spending in New York – the state budget, every municipality and school district and every one of the 800-plus authorities." Can you imagine how different this year's 100+ days late budget process would have proceeded had the Legislature believed they could be audited? No more "one-shot" revenue fixes. No more unrealistic and wasteful budgets. Wilson goes on to say, "Government takes well over $250 billion of taxes and fees out of New Yorkers’ pockets, and I intend to cut through that out-of-control spending in a way that no Comptroller has done in decades. " Again, WOW. A lot of politicians talk about cutting spending and reducing taxes. Wilson has shown as Comptroller he has the power to actually follow through on those promises.

Harry Wilson will be addressing the Government Affairs Committee on Monday, July 26th at 3:30 PM here at the Partnership. We welcome anyone who would like to hear what Wilson has to say about his campaign, the financial situation of New York State, and how he intends to fix it to join us. More information and reservations can be made here. Hope to see you there!

SBIR in danger (again)!

As many of you know, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly specialized form of funding, administered by 10 federal agencies for small firms to perform cutting-edge R & D that addresses the nation's most critical scientific and engineering needs. These needs span the technology spectrum – from advanced manufacturing and agriculture to energy and medicine. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, the program has been plagued by uncertainty since 2008 due to continued stalling by Congress on a long-term re-authorization for the $2.5B program.

Now, for the 8th time in 2 years, the SBIR program is in jeopardy (again)! The current continuing resolution (CR), Congress’s preferred method of re-authorization, expires on July 31, 2010. Without re-authorization or another continuing resolution, as of August 1st, small technology-based companies across the country that depend on this vital source of federal money to continue their innovative work will lose their leading source of early stage capital due to the limited access they have to private investment by angel investors and venture capital (VC) firms.

So, where does re-authorization stand now – two weeks before its current sunset?

Currently, advocates of the program are awaiting details on the House’s response to the now-expired (since December 31, 2009) Senate compromise on the two vastly different SBIR re-authorization bills, H.R. 2965 and S.1233. The Senate originally delivered a generous compromise in October but the House responded just weeks ago. While the House’s response has not been publicly disclosed, it is widely believed reconciliation of the two bills will again hinge on the issue of SBIR eligibility for VC-backed firms.

Back in October, when the Partnership weighed in on the issue, we voiced our opposition to the inclusion of these types of firms due to the fact that they would crowd-out smaller start-ups and “potentially redistribute funding to areas with greater number of venture capital (VC) backed firms resulting in less SBIR/STTR dollars awarded to small Upstate New York companies.” In light of this fact, we feel strongly that criterion for funding must reflect the fact that the SBIR program is often the only access small businesses have to federal research and development procurement.

Once details of the House's reconciliation plan become public, the Partnership will continue to advocate for long-term re-authorization of this vital funding for innovation. Click here to see our advocacy related the reinstatement of a competitive dollar-for-dollar NYS SBIR-matching funds program that would provide Buffalo Niagara businesses with additional resources to complement their existing federal awards. And, make sure to check back here at the end of July to find out the latest news on SBIR re-authorization.

Senator Schumer visits the Partnership

Throughout each year, we work to bring in our elected officials at various levels of government for "face-time" with our members through our Government Affairs series. These "closed-door" sessions (meaning members-only, no media) are an invaluable connection between the business community and our elected leaders, and provide great opportunity for two-way dialogue. The elected officials let us know that they appreciate the time, and our members (judging by attendance numbers) always take advantage of the opportunity.

This morning, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer spoke with Partnership members for about an hour, going into great depth on the state of the country's economy, and what it means for Western New York. As he always is, he was upfront about decisions that were made - offering his perspective that many of the steps taken by the federal government over the last year-and-a-half may not have been perfect, but they were timely. He pointed to the GM expansion and the jobs saved and created here in Tonawanda as a result of timely action by Washington.

Encouragingly, Senator Schumer talked at great length about UB2020, calling it the "best thing he's ever seen for Western New York." He said that he's spoken with both the Governor and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on UB2020, and urged us to stay strong in our lobbying and politics to make it happen. The Senator also addressed the Peace Bridge Expansion Project, urging the Buffalo Niagara region to "get everything buttoned up" by the spring, when the federal highway reauthorization would be addressed.

Though disagreeing with many in the room, Senator Schumer addressed the labor-friendly movement in Washington, specifically his own bill, the DISCLOSE Act, and the Employee Free Choice Act. The Senator talked about the plight of the middle class in defense of his support for these pieces of legislation, and acknowledged that he and the business community have different philosophies on how to address it.

Overall, it was a good session. While we disagree with the Senator on some federal policy issues, he has been an effective leader in delivering for the Buffalo Niagara region, and promised to continue doing so.

BuffaloNiagaraJobs.com: Your Resource for Finding Quality Employees

One of the Partnership’s most important workforce development initiatives is the regional jobs website BuffaloNiagaraJobs.com. Formally known as IAmBuffaloNiagaraJobs.com, the website has been a resource for both employers and job seekers for the past ten years.

The website is a truly regional resource, only listing positions located within the 8 counties of WNY. It’s also free to use! Employers can post listings, search for resumes using keywords, education and career levels, and view the number of seekers who have directly applied to their posting.

A key feature of the jobs website is a dropdown menu listing local workforce development resources available to help employers find free or low cost assistance with identifying, hiring, and training employees. We highly encourage employers to explore the site and gain more knowledge about how they can be matched with qualified candidates. The site also provides resources for job seekers including job fairs, networking events, and other information about living and working in our region.

Additionally, if you have interest in promoting your company and/or employment opportunities to the thousands of job seekers using BuffaloNiagaraJobs.com, the website offers several marketing opportunities, as well!

Senator Charles Schumer Visiting the Partnership!

On Monday, July 19th, United States Senator Charles Schumer will be participating in the Buffalo Niagara Partnership's Congressional Briefing Series, our annual Government Affairs event where our members can get one-on-one contact with our area's federal representatives. We've already been joined by Congressmen Higgins and Lee, and each session resulted in some interesting dialogue and insight, especially about health care reform and Buffalo's economic development prospects.

Sen. Schumer is highly regarded as one of the most respected and influential members of the United States Senate, which is reflected by his membership on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the nation’s tax, trade, social security and health care legislation. He also resides as the Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, which oversees federal elections, voting rights, campaign finance, and the operation of the Senate complex. These two committees are some of the most powerful in the Senate, and Sen. Schumer's membership on both allows New York to have a strong voice in DC.

Please join us at 8:30AM at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership on July 19th to inform Sen. Schumer firsthand of the Buffalo Niagara business community's interests in our nation's capitol. You can RSVP here.

While on our Events page - check out the Government Affairs Council Session & Mixer scheduled for July 26th. We are in the process of lining up some very exciting guests, and we should have a energetic and insightful conversation about the upcoming election season... you won't want to miss it!

Honoring Those Who Support Women

Do you know someone who helps women succeed in the workplace or in the community? Do you know of a young professional who gives back to the community and is a role model for young women? Consider nominating them for an ATHENA Award.

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership has announced the call for nominations for the region’s 21st Annual ATHENA Awards®, including the ATHENA Award® and the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.

The ATHENA Award® honors an exceptional individual who has attained and personifies the highest level of professional excellence, demonstrates support for the goals of women professionals, and provides significant and selfless assistance on their behalf.

The ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award honors an exceptional individual (under the approximate age of 40) who is an emerging leader in her/his business or profession, who gives back to the community in meaningful ways, and who clearly serves as a role model for young women both personally and professionally.

The recipients will be announced and all nominees honored at the 21st Annual ATHENA Awards® Luncheon on Thursday, November 4, 2010 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel.

Nominations for both awards are due at noon, Wednesday, July 21, 2010.

Visit http://www.thepartnership.org/Home/Programs/athenaprogram for more information on how to submit a nomination.

Canal Side hearing tomorrow night

Tomorrow evening (7/13) at 5 p.m., the Buffalo Common Council will hold a public hearing on the Canal Side project. If you're a supporter, you should think about getting down to Council Chambers in City Hall to attend. Personally, I've sat through and presented before an awful lot of Buffalo Common Council public hearings, and I've generally found that they're going to do whatever they want anyway - but in their defense, the hearings are usually underattended (chicken-or-egg scenario?!). Which is why it's important to flood the microphone with supporters of the project. If the media picks up the vast community support, it'll make it much more difficult for the Common Council members to stall the project.

I like to look at the two big region-altering projects we have on the docket right now - the Peace Bridge and Canal Side. For our community's purposes, the Peace Bridge and adjacent plaza are not necessarily in our hands. It's a bi-national project that needs federal funding that has not yet been identified, environmental impacts have to be completed (they will be soon - we'll be having a different conversation about this in a few months) and despite the fact that it is, indeed, moving along, it is bigger than all of us. The White House and Congress need to make the Peace Bridge Expansion Project a priority, and then it will happen.

Canal Side's scenario is a little different. We control its fate, and much of it is in the hands of the Common Council. The funding has been identified, work is already being done and there is momentum. If Canal Side doesn't happen, it's our own failure as a community for bowing to the vocal minority. The project's supporters need to make sure that doesn't happen.

One of the things currently standing in the way is the proposal that Canal Side sign a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), in which it would agree to various stipulations, among them a minimum wage rate - called the "living wage" - for anyone doing business on or in the development. Buffalo's living wage rate is $10.53/hr with benefits. If this agreement is signed, every person working for any company at Canal Side will have to make that minimum salary - every restaurant, retail shop or snack stand will have to abide by those rules.

Yes, you're right - it's ridiculous. What companies are going to locate at Canal Side under that expensive mandate? Either that or it's "Hey, want to go down to the waterfront for a $21 burger?" The backers of this proposal would prefer to kill the project before it starts, and while they would be able to claim political victory (Yay!) if the Common Council holds out, it'd really be a shame for the other 1.4 million people in the Buffalo Niagara region. Their contention is that state incentives should not be creating jobs that aren't "quality" jobs. I did a quick poll here at the Partnership of my professional colleagues and found that 9 out of 10 people here began their careers in retail, most of them making very little (I personally made $3.40/hr in my first job - McDonald's when it was on Hertel Avenue - in 1989). Regardless of how the Canal Side obstructionists feel about service jobs - the workforce needs them. There has to be a career level for unskilled workers to give them the opportunity and experience to rise to higher levels. At $10.53 per hour, unskilled workers that would or could be perceived as not being worth that wage, will not get the chance to have those jobs they need to build their careers. (I make this point all the time in living wage debates - what employer is going to give someone who's capable of doing an $8/hr job a wage of $10.53/hr because they're forced to? No, they're going to not hire that person and instead find someone else who is worth that wage. Imposing a living wage actually hurts the people it's supposed to be helping!).

Like it or not, retail will be a part of Canal Side. Again, it is a region-changing project, one that our residents have been wanting for decades. It will open up our waterfront that has been the poster child for Buffalo's decline, and make it useable and enjoyable for our own residents and visitors.

Interestingly, the state and federal governments are looking to make about $1 billion (yes, that's billion) in investments in the City of Buffalo between Canal Side and the Peace Bridge and the Common Council has a say in all of it. This city has been waiting a long time for some good, job-creating economic development action, and we're on the cusp of getting it. I hope that the Council members understand the gravity of the situation - there is too much at stake for them to stand in the way of moving this city forward at the behest of token but outspoken special interest groups.

If you can get to the public hearing tomorrow evening to say a few words (or a lot of words) about how important this project is to you and to Buffalo, it'd be worth the trip. The opposition will be there (probably rallying), and they usually get press despite a lack of numbers. It is imperative that the people who want to see Buffalo progress show up in greater numbers and drown out the obstructionist voice. Give the Common Council members something to think about.

Perhaps it's human nature. It seems that for some people, they are always able to pick out the negative in a situation before the positive. Take our recent weather for example; I've heard many people complain that it's too hot outside. If you "play back the tapes" from five months ago, there were complaints of it being too cold. Ah, Western New Yorkers and our weather; let's just say that it adds to the character of our community.

The same perspective can be said of how many view economic development in our area. Perfect it is not. That being said, there is more going on behind the scenes than might be apparent. Personally, I view UB2020 and all of the related activities associated with it, has and will continue to contribute to the foundation for an economic renaissance for our region. However, that topic will be addressed in other blogs and communications.

An initiative that is taking place more "behind the scenes" is something worth noticing. In December 2009 the ECIDA and all IDAs within Erie County agreed to adopt a Tiered Incentive Program that encourages development to take place where infrastructure currently exists. The premise supports the idea of redevelopment and the adaptive reuse of areas that will contribute to the revitalization of a neighborhood, business district, old building...you get the idea. It's not a city "thing" or a county "thing"; it's a region "thing".

Last month County Executive, Chris Collins; Buffalo Mayor, Byron Brown and Buffalo Niagara Partnership President and CEO, Andrew Rudnick invited some of the other players in economic development to meet and learn about additional opportunities for incentivizing redevelopment in our area.

On June 17th, over 30 of these participants who represented public utilities, public transportation and infrastructure, workforce, NYS Department of State, NYPA and additional economic development professionals met at the Burchfield Penney Arts Center to be formally asked to investigate how their respective "toolkits" of programs/incentives can be harmonized with the Tiered Incentives Program. There was a strong interest to participate in the process. Our next step is for a combination of the ECIDA and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership to meet with each of these individuals to discuss the details of how we are able to implement these additional tools.

Ultimately, we all want the same for our community: Healthy and Sustainable Growth. This is one example of how a variety of organizations have come together and have taken a look at the situation from their own unique perspective...and have agreed to be proactive in the process.

I am pleased to see this collaboration take place. No community "does" economic development perfectly. From the looks of things...I'd say the forecast calls for some sticky conditions with clear sun on the horizon.

"More Wisdom, Fewer Wise Guys"

That’s what the U.S. Capitol needs, said Congressman Brian Higgins yesterday during a lunchtime conversation with Partnership members.

(We’d add the Capitol in Albany to his statement, too……)

The Congressman from the 27th District has met regularly with Partnership members since his election to the House. Today, he seemed more frustrated than ever by a political “tone and tenor” he describes as awful.

Congressman Higgins described fellow representatives demeaning each other, name calling and weighing in on the “issue of the day” but quickly moving on to the next hot topic without accomplishing much. In addition to being uncivilized and not advancing productive public discourse, such behavior does little to solve the nation’s problems, which, says Rep. Higgins, do not have a partisan label.

The Congressman suggested voters “tune out the wise guys on both sides,” and instead focus on facts and develop their own opinion about hot topics such as the oil spill, Afghanistan and Iraq or health care reform.

He also added there are many federal elected officials who aren’t focused on heaping blame, but are making important progress. We’d list him among such representatives.

He’s been a leader on border issues (worked with GOP Congressman Chris Lee to bring a Passport office to Buffalo) and a fierce advocate for critical local projects such as the waterfront, Peace Bridge and protecting the asset of Niagara hydropower. He and his staff have been accessible, open to our perspective and thoughtful in their approach to policy matters.

Congressman Higgins offered the following today:

On healthcare reform: “True reform of our healthcare system won’t come out of D.C., but from communities like Buffalo.” He touted work done by local health plans such as Independent Health to “bend the cost curve,” CTG’s business success that’s come from helping regions of the country develop/implement electronic medical records, the spin-off companies that have grown from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and the historic and groundbreaking research that’s a part of the legacy of Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

On the Peace Bridge: “If you want the Bills to move to Toronto, don’t build a new Peace Bridge.” He said people are modifying their economic behavior because bridge flow is unreliable. “We need people to cross and spend their money here,” he said.

On the waterfront: He described the $80 million, tree-lined and pedestrian-friendly Outer Harbor parkway and the key to “unlocking the economic potential of 300 prime acres of waterfront land that for 50 years has had no economic activity and generated no taxes.”

On the financial crisis and oil industry: “The debate is between those who want deregulation versus those who promote overregulation…but where are the people taking about smart regulation? That’s what we need of both industries.”

DISCLOSE Act would silence business

The House recently passed the innocuously named “Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections” Act, commonly known as the “DISCLOSE” Act in a 219-206 vote. The bill was received by the Senate last Monday amidst declarations that the bill would be moved quickly despite Elena Kagan’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings and the Senate’s holiday recess. As expected, the bill is still awaiting action in the Committee on Rules and Administration. The Partnership adamantly opposed “DISCLOSE” when it was moving through the House and we will continue to voice our opposition if and when the bill emerges from Committee and undergoes debate on the Senate floor.

Even though this bill comes wrapped in the language of transparency, the "DISCLOSE" Act is a direct and unconstitutional attack on the First Amendment rights of business across the country. Introduced only four months after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC ruling, "DISCLOSE" is a broad and rushed response to the high court’s ruling that the First Amendment guarantees all corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited amounts of money from their general treasuries to expressly advocate the election or defeat of a candidate.

One of the most alarming provisions of DISCLOSE is the blatant preferential treatment of organized labor. While the Supreme Court overturned spending limits for both corporations and unions in its ruling, this bill would reimpose those limits only on corporations. This is a huge departure from pre-Citizens United campaign finance law in which Congress went to great lengths to ensure that businesses and unions were treated fairly. “DISCLOSE” effectively undermines the bipartisan McCain-Feingold Act, silencing businesses, trade associations and non-profit organizations – all vital and rightful participants in the national political debate.

In our letter to the WNY Congressional delegation, the Partnership warned that the bill’s outright display of partisanship threatens the integrity of our entire electoral system. There is a sliver of hope for business though – advocates of the bill have long pointed to July 4th as the deadline for the bill’s passage in the Senate for enacting the law so that its provisions could be implemented and enforceable during the hotly-contested midterm congressional campaign. With the holiday behind us and still no “DISCLOSE”, the free speech rights of the business community remain intact…for now.

Utility Service Workers Bill Passes

The State Senate today passed by a 32-30 vote legislation that will require utility companies to pay prevailing (union) wages to service workers. The Partnership opposed this legislation for a couple reasons: (1) it will drive up energy costs on Upstate businesses and residents; (2) government should not be dictating wage requirements on private, shareholder-owned companies; and (3) it will eliminate many small businesses that cannot afford wage mandates from contracting work with utility companies.

This is one of a host of awful bills coming out of Albany that we're fighting right now. The delayed budget and extended session in Albany has brought out the worst - and most of the damage seems to be aimed at Upstate. If there is any question as to why Upstate needs to come together on Election Day this year to put an Upstate-friendly majority in the State Senate, just read the newspaper.

More to follow as info becomes available.