2011 Jobs Express Funds Summer Youth Employment

Are you an employer looking to build a reliable pool of future employees? If you answered yes, the Buffalo Employment and Training Center (BETC), is looking for businesses like yours to participate in “2011 Jobs Express.” A state funded program “2011 Jobs Express” is designed to encourage local business leaders to hire employees between the ages of 14 and 21 for summer employment throughout the Buffalo Niagara Region.

The BETC recently received $330, 556 in State funding to implement this young adult workforce program. As a result they will provide work readiness training, supportive services and wages for approximately 100 area youth who are placed in private sector jobs. Designed specifically to target employers with entry-level or seasonal openings, including super markets, retail stores, restaurants and recreational programs, “2011 Jobs Express” will allow the BETC to subsidize the wages of those young adults who are placed with local employers, giving businesses the resources to hire, train and foster the growth in young adults from our community, creating a sense of pride for both workers and employers.

Statistics show that for every year a teen works, the income earned in their twenties rises between 14 to 16 percent. Studies also indicate a direct correlation between summer employment and higher graduation rates. Additionally, companies that hire younger workers during the summer months benefit by building a reliable pool of future full-time employees.

The BETC will run this community minded, summer outreach program beginning Monday, July 11^th through Thursday, August 25th- for all in-school youth, and Thursday, September 29th - for all out-of-school youth. If you are interested in learning more about the “2011 Jobs Express” program, or are interested in participating in building our communities workforce for tomorrow, please contact Jeff Nixon at the Buffalo Youth Employment and Training Office by phone at (716) 856-8139 ext. 3134 or by email at jnixon@wdcinc.org.

Innovation in Our Lives

At last month's Innovate Buffalo Niagara awards, the Partnership celebrated some of the most innovative companies in the region; companies whose success is attributed to creatively implementing new ideas to enhance their products and services for their customers.

One of those honored was the HEALTHeLINK project, the winner of the Collaboration Award. The purpose of the project is to create and maintain a secure and reliable infrastructure for health care providers, insurers and other medical professionals to share clinical information. This electronic system will allow for real-time sharing of clinical information among health care professionals in order to promote collaboration, limit duplication, control healthcare costs and improve the delivery of services, clinical outcomes and patient safety. The ultimate winner in this collaboration will be the healthcare consumer.

Among the collaborators on this project was Independent Health, one of the leaders in the national healthcare debate. IHA Chief Medical Officer Thomas J. Foels, M.D. talks more about the HEALTHeLINK project and Independent Health's achievement of the "triple aim" in this month's Expert Forum. Read more about it on the Partnership's website.

Who Says You Can't Go Home?

Hi everyone - Tom Murdock here, the new Marketing & Communications Director for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. I am a native Buffalonian and returned home on June 1 after spending the last 11 years in Ohio, Massachusetts, Illinois, Indiana, and most recently, New York City. I came back to Buffalo and joined the Partnership to have a positive impact on my hometown and help our member investors grow their businesses.

My first three weeks in town have been quite the experience and I have attended many of the great events the Partnership puts together for our members and the community. In just the past few weeks, we have hosted our recurring Partnership 101 event, an installment of our renewable energy series hosted by Phillips Lytle, a happy hour for young professionals at the Ronald McDonald House, and our All Star Affair co-hosted with the Buffalo Bills and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York.



Yesterday, I was able to attend a Sustainable Development event we presented with the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors at Templeton Landing. The morning featured two panel discussions with professionals from around Buffalo Niagara and the United States. The first panel featured Paul Beyer from the NYS Department of State and Bill Tuyn from Greenman-Pederson, and was moderated by Dennis Elsenbeck of National Grid. Paul and Bill made strong cases for the need to rethink our development model and encourage smart growth and new urbanism. Each presented strong examples of both local and national projects which made for a fascinating and interactive discussion.



The second panel occurred later in the morning and was hosted by Steve Ricca of Jaeckle, Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP. It centered around the business case for sustainable development and featured panelists Dena Belzar of Strategic Economics, Laura Hackathorn of the Village of Hamburg, and Carl Montante of Uniland Development. Visiting from California, Dena was able to provide an outsider's perspective on our built environment and encouraged the audience to consider some of our previously held ideas, especially involving public transportation. Laura walked attendees through Hamburg's experience of revitalizing its downtown through private investments and streetscape improvements. Carl Montante helped the audience understand his firm's experience in developing Avant downtown and their decision to pursue mixed uses.

From there, we left Templeton Landing and went on a tour of waterfront progress hosted by Peter Cammarata and David Stebbins of Buffalo Urban Development Corporation. The first stop was the offices of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, where President Tom Dee briefed the crowd on post-Bass Pro plans for Canalside. Tom and his team have made enormous progress in the past year, building visible signs of progress, turning opponents into supporters, and tripling the number of summertime events held at Canalside to more than 300. Tom had his audience buzzing with excitement for Canalside's bright future.



After leaving ECHDC, we visited the new RiverFest Park, where we were greeted with Peg Overdorf, Executive Director of the Valley Community Association. Peg talked us through her efforts to raise money and construct the new park, which many are already calling Peg's Park. I had read about RiverFest in the paper and online, but was astonished to see the scale and beauty of the park. There is plenty of room for expansion to neighboring properties and Peg is anything but short on ideas or energy for the future. This is one of those things that you have to see to believe and is certainly worth the trip.



Next, we headed to the Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park, RiverBend, Ship Canal Commons, each a project of Buffalo Urban Development Corporation. Like Peg's Park, the impact of these brownfield redevelopments are much greater than you'd assume after reading about them in the paper. Our tour guides drove us through their massive developments with great pride. Where Republic Steel and Hanna Furnace once operated (and polluted), three new tenants have already moved in to the development's light industrial space. Surrounding the old Union Ship Canal is a large recreational green space that has just been planted and hides the light industrial spaces from the water. Fortunately for the new plantings (but unfortunately for us), rain had started to fall and kept us on the bus. Instead, you can see a two week old image of the site (pre-plantings) here as well as a rendering here. Here is Dave showing us a picture to demonstrate the scale of this huge development:



Our last stop was in Larkinville where the Larkin Development Company's efforts have expanded beyond their initial redevelopment of the 600,000 square foot Graphic Controls building to include redevelopment of adjoining blocks and attracted other developers to the area as well. The Larkin At Exchange Building is at full capacity and has attracted tenants including Kaleida, Travers Collins, and First Niagara's headquarters. LDC is in the process of redeveloping the Larkin U building for additional First Niagara Space and constructing another building for Capital Management which has outgrown their current space. Ironically, construction of the Larkin At Exchange Building began exactly 100 years ago this weekend, and LDC is celebrating today with its tenants by sharing a massive cake (think a piece for each of the 2,000 employees in the Larkin Building) shaped just like the building.

Here are a few shots of Donna Kostrzewski, Vice President of LDC showing us around and the chocolate she shared with us:




What a great day for this repatriated Buffalonian. Seeing these sites will turn cynics into believers and I would highly encourage all of you to take your own tour (and bring your friends!). Thanks for reading!

Networking can Make a World of Difference

How many people do you know and more importantly, how many people know you? Actively and effectively building business connections will have a positive impact on your career whether you’re a new or seasoned business professional.

Your next job, promotion or business deal could be directly connected to the strength of your network. Experts in the business industry report that over 70 percent of jobs are never advertised. If you, or someone you know, are one of the thousands of people within our region, who are actively seeking work, then networking with Buffalo Niagara’s 360 Program should be at the top of your list of strategies to enhance your career opportunities.

Make a Plan. In your quest to increase your networking opportunities, determine first what it is that you want to achieve. Take time to visualize your desired outcome. Are you searching for a business partner, looking to hire an ideal candidate or simply wanting to increase your community awareness? Taking some time to understand what it is you want and knowing what you’re passionate about, will help you stay focused on achieving your goals.

Find a regular place to network. The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is a great place to start with dozens of opportunities to learn about various industries and businesses throughout the region, while attending anyone of the dozens of events offered to our members year-round. To find the best fit for you, narrow your focus and find networking groups that will help you meet both your personal and professional needs. Talk to friends, co-workers and business contacts to learn about the best places to network. Get involved with organizations like the Buffalo Niagara Partnerhsip or the Canisius Women’s Business Center; state or local industries or trade associations and service-based organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis or the Lions Club.

Set your goals. Plan monthly targets like “Happy Hour-for-a Cause” or the Medaille “Business Leadership Series” to get involved and make new connections. Work on nurturing existing personal and business relationships. For every one-or two-hour business event you attend, like a luncheon or networking reception, plan to meet five to 10 new people. Focus on spending no more than 10 minutes with each new person you meet and limit the time you spend with your friends and co-workers. Focus on building mutually beneficial relationships by not always trying to satisfy your own networking goals, but by helping others to accomplish theirs first. Look for ways to help others and they will look for opportunities to help you too.

Give back to the community. Once you’ve found a great place to network, get out into the community and find a place to volunteer. Giving your time and attention to community organizations is one of the best ways to network. In the process of providing your time and talents to different groups or organizations like the one’s listed on our Volunteer Page, you will demonstrate your abilities and learn new skills. Volunteering will give you the opportunity to develop relationships with people outside of your office, while meeting business and community leaders connected to the organization.

Build on your network. Building mutually beneficial relationships and forming business connections is a long-term strategy that often produces immediate results. Start today, build a plan and get ready to enrich your life through the habit of effective networking, because the world rewards those who have started and continue to effectively develop, a strong network of business connections.

Happy Hour For-A-Cause Visits Ronald McDonald House

The Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo provides a home-away-from-home for families of ill or injured children receiving treatment at Buffalo-area hospitals. Families from all over the world that travel to Buffalo are welcome to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. The House serves as a warm haven for families at their time of need. Maintained by volunteers and staff, the Ronald McDonald House relies on the support of a large network of volunteer groups from around the region. Buffalo Niagara 360 will participate in this tradition during the months of June and July starting with Happy Hour For A Cause on Thursday, June 16, 2011 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at 780 W. Ferry Street in Buffalo. Bring an item from the Ronald McDonald “Wish List” and sign-up for your opportunity to volunteer your time for this worthy cause with our BN 360 team!

Founded locally in 1983 with a seed grant from McDonald’s Corporation, the House receives some support from local McDonald’s owners and operators, but it relies heavily on the generous donations of individuals, community groups and local businesses to cover operational expenses. Located in the historic district of West Ferry Street in Buffalo, the Ronald McDonald House is a 14,000 square-foot home that accommodates up to 50 people at a time. The House features 15 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, a family room, children’s playroom and various other common areas.

Over the last 28 years, the House has played host to more than 17,000 families and their children. Guests are provided with private bedrooms, van transportation to and from the hospital and a fully stocked kitchen, where meals are often prepared by volunteer groups. The House also has a great playroom for children, provides free laundry facilities, exercise facility and computers with Internet access.

Visiting families are asked to contribute $15 per night per room. The actual cost of a family’s stay is much more than that and the House depends on the generous donations from the Western New York community to cover the additional expense. To learn more about how you can help the Ronald McDonald House, follow this link or call (716) 883-1177 for more information.

Saturday, July 9, 2011-BN 360’s Ronald McDonald House Clean-Up For A Cause
9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Ronald McDonald House780 W. Ferry Street, Buffalo, NY

Volunteer Effort

Join us for BN 360’s Ronald McDonald House Clean-Up For A Cause. A 360 team effort to support the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo. Volunteers will participate in a two-hour indoor and outdoor clean-up of the 14,000 square-foot Ronald McDonald House. This event is limited to 10 volunteers. Sign-up for BN 360’s Ronald McDonald House Clean-Up For A Cause at the June 16th Happy Hour For A Cause. For more information contact Christina M. Lopez, Manager, Workforce Development at 716.541.1723 or by email at clopez@thepartnership.org.

Saturday, July 30, 2011-BN 360 Cooks For Kids!
1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Ronald McDonald House780 W. Ferry Street, Buffalo, NY

Volunteer Effort

Help make the Ronald McDonald House a real home away from home for its visitors by joining us as BN 360Cooks for Kids! Our groups will plan the menu, shop for menu items and prepare a home cooked meal in the House kitchen for our guests. Volunteers must be at 14-years of age to participate. Sign-up for BN 360 Cooks For Kids at the June 16th Happy Hour For A Cause. For more information contact Christina M. Lopez, Manager, Workforce Development at 716.541.1723 or by email at clopez@thepartnership.org.

Congressional Briefing Series with Congressman Brian Higgins: Join Us!

Every summer, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership offers a unique opportunity for its members to participate in one-on-one interactions with our region's federal representatives. We are kicking off this year's 2011 Congressional Briefing Series with a lunch featuring Congressman Brian Higgins on Wednesday, June 29th.

Congressman Higgins has represented the 27th Congressional District since 2005, and his tenure in Washington has fortified the reputation from his days in the state Assembly as one of Buffalo's strongest advocates. Congressman Higgins has been passionate in DC about the Outer Harbor and waterfront development as well as the continued push for a new Peace Bridge. His astute understanding of what the Buffalo Niagara economy's biggest needs are led to the recent opening of a U.S. Passport office in downtown Buffalo, affording residents and consumers the opportunity to handle new homeland security border crossing regulations the easiest way possible.

The format for the Congressional Briefing Series includes the Congressman addressing the crowd on a federal topic of his choosing, including an overall update of the going-ons of Washington. The floor is then opened for questions, and as past experiences have demonstrated, Congressman Higgins is always one of the most candid and forthcoming participants in the Series when answering inquiries from our members.

If you're curious about the federal government and its processes, current affairs in DC, or your business is facing a federal issue you'd like to bring up to your representative, there is no better opportunity for you to do so than a Congressional Briefing Series. I encourage everyone to join us on June 29th! If you'd like to attend, please register here.

UB Partners Day - Collaboration Works!

I had the opportunity on Friday morning to present a session with my good friend Al Hammonds from the UB Office of Economic Engagement (OEE) as part of UB Partners Day. Partners Day is an annual event where UB invites in members of the community from various sectors - business (small and large), economic development, foundations - and not only recognize their strategic partnerships in the Buffalo Niagara region, but explore through a series of workshops the opportunities that are available. From our perspective, the event is part educational and part relationship building.

Al and I presented on collaboration, specifically with the University of Buffalo. A little over a year ago, UB came to the Partnership and asked how the university, with the wealth of services it offers, could connect with our members, the Buffalo Niagara business community. It was an important connection for us to make. Each year, Partnership staff personally visits with hundreds of employers in the region through our Employer Outreach Program. We interview them, find out their challenges and opportunities, and see where we can be of help. In many cases, the employer doesn't know what resources exist for them, so we provide the conduit, if indeed the service they need isn't one that we provide in-house.

Take the cold storage facility that was in the process of haggling with the Chinese over four containers of tomatoes that were rotten and unusable when they arrived at their doors. We were able to make a personal connection for them to World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara.

Or the Blasdell manufacturer who's expansion is being thwarted by a NYS DEC regulation that costs over $100K per year to fulfill - we facilitated a tour of the plant by then-Senator Bill Stachowski and have connected them with now-Senator Tim Kennedy.

There are hosts of other examples, but the organizations and people with which we work we refer to as our economic development "toolkit." When UB came to us with 13 pages of "centers" that can provide invaluable services for our members, our toolkit grew enormously. From workforce development programs to hi-tech modeling to CanAm trade assistance, the resources available through UB are extensive. So much so, that we've actually partnered with the OEE on a series of workshops designed for economic development professionals to learn about the university's offerings. In November, we highlighted tools for manufacturers; in January, workforce and career placement services. Next up, we'll be focusing on the Buffalo Niagara logistics industry.

The collaboration has already yielded results. A number of Partnership members have already, through us, tapped into internship programs at UB. Some have contact the NYS Center for Engineering Design and Industrial Innovation (NYSCEDII) - which we hosted for a follow-up event with manufacturers here at the Partnership - for design services. And we continue to have strong ties into which our members can tap with UB programs in the Schools of Engineering and Management and the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL). The collaboration in one year has been wildly productive.

UB, meanwhile, in its own outreach to the community, has encapsulated its resources onto the OEE web site, creating an easy reference guide to the various programs (and there are a lot of them!). But if you want some help navigating, give us a call at the Partnership - we'll use the relationships we've built at UB and other organizations engaged in economic development to help you grow your business.

Innovation @work

From celebrating innovation amongst our membership at our Annual INNOVATE Buffalo Niagara Awards and exploring the creation of an innovation-economy through a visit from Jumpstart CEO Ray Leach to advocating for reauthorization of the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to fund cutting-edge R&D with strong commercialization potential, May was all about innovation.

Yesterday, as I attended a meeting at the Innovation Center on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (one of our region’s most successful ensemble casts supporting innovation) and heard about the 100% occupancy rate in the labs, the thousands of employees, world-class researchers, doctors that drive life-saving research, diagnoses, and treatments each day, and the millions of square feet of space currently under construction – the importance of collaboration in the name of driving an innovation-based economy was strengthened.

Just as May was filled with all things innovative, June is proving to be another month filled with events dedicated to the vital role innovation is playing in Buffalo Niagara's economic revitalization...

Tomorrow, the Partnership will be participating in UB Partners Day – a day of workshops, exhibits and speakers focused on “Innovation with an Impact” – an exploration of how a partnership with UB can help boost growth for large and small businesses alike as well as the region as a whole. You can join us – the morning of workshops is open at no charge to the public!

On June 9, Bright Buffalo Niagara and UBCOE will host the Bright Forum at the Albright Knox Art Gallery– an event which will bring together investors, entrepreneurs, professionals and community leaders to hear over 25 company presentations highlighting ground-breaking innovation happening across the life sciences, energy, IT and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Kicking off on June 14, UB COE will be hosting the 2011 Pre-Seed Workshop for those at the very beginning of the innovation life cycle. Offering objective feedback on the viability and commercialization potential of your idea; this two-day workshop will lend you the pre-seed support you need to your idea and vision into a technology venture. And for those a bit farther along in the process, Insyte Consulting, our region’s NYSTAR designated SBIR/STTR specialist, will host a 3-hour FREE SBIR/STTR Workshop on June 16, outlining ways that entrepreneurs and established businesses alike can leverage this federal funding opportunity.

With ALL new net job creation in the last 30 years coming from high-growth entrepreneurial companies, it’s clear why we must continue to join forces to spur and support regional innovation…