Invest Buffalo Niagara business attractions and expansions, 2020-21

Although challenging in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 fiscal year was a very successful one for Invest Buffalo Niagara (InBN). Our work resulted in 14 companies relocating or expanding in Buffalo Niagara, creating 725 jobs and investing $447,208,300. 

I am deeply proud of the work our staff achieved this fiscal year. Their successes are only made possible by the commitment of our investors and partners. 

Invest Buffalo Niagara serves as a single point of entry for economic development inquiries and offers a comprehensive suite of client-driven project management services to companies and consultants evaluating the market area:

• Confidential and custom site location assistance
• Detailed, comprehensive site/building information
• Labor market analysis and demographics
• Tailored market research
• Facilitation of state and local incentive programming
• Personal community and site tours
• Introductions to professional service providers and partners
• Meetings with community and business leaders
• Assistance with workforce and recruitment training needs
  
  

Below see a list of the wins our organization was able to attract or retain this fiscal year, as well as some highlights of our engagement. 

AML Rightsource 
A previous win from 2019 the company had hired 84 people since spring of 2019, but was quickly running out of space for additional workers. In 2020, InBN supported AML in submitting a second Empire State Development (ESD) Excelsior application for their 100-person expansion in Buffalo and helped the company secure an offer of $2.1M. InBN also provided assistance with employee recruitment with AML participating in Be In Buffalo’s virtual career fair, where their team engaged in 18 conversations with prospective candidates, 6 of whom were deemed potential matches for the company's needs.

Feedback Solutions
An early stage cleantech company out of Mississauga, Canada was looking to capitalize on New York’s clean energy initiatives and goals. In October of 2019, the company was referred to InBN through Launch NY. InBN coordinated cross border due diligence meetings and a meeting with Startup NY. The company pursued expansion virtually through the COVID crisis. Feedback Solutions engaged with the referred accounting firm, Tronconi Segarra, and was approved for Startup NY.

NYPPE
COVID-19 amplified the dependence on far away supply chains. As the country attempts to safeguard against future crises, the community and local government has placed its attention on the revitalization of domestic manufacturing and supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Connor Knapp and Peter Bruckel, both successful business leaders in Western New York across diverse industries saw the increased demand for PPE localization and decided to manufacturer NIOSH N-95 respirators and surgical masks. InBN assisted with the site search and incentive coordination through New York State’s newly launched grant program toward the localization of PPE. They were awarded $1M.  NYPPE found manufacturing space on Kenmore Avenue in Erie County through TM Montante. The company expects to hire 20 people initially, operating on two different shifts. 

Plug Power
A $290 million investment to construct a 50,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant at the STAMP South property in Genesee County.  The plant will manufacture 40-tons of hydrogen per day to be used in fuel cells for on and off-road applications.  Plug Power's fuel cells will enable the adoption of zero-emission freight transport and logistics handling equipment.  The successful completion of Plug Power's project represents the first tenant at the STAMP mega-site.  Invest Buffalo Niagara has worked with our partners at GCEDC for over a decade to prepare the site for development and market the site for various development projects.

U.S. Glove Supply
This new Nitrile Glove factory will occupy a 253,000 sq. ft. facility at 300 Commerce in Lackawanna. InBN provided site selection assistance, professional introductions to accountants, ESD, Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA), National Grid, National Fuel, engineering and recruiting firms, as well as the Erie County Water Authority and the Buffalo Sewer Authority. InBN also coordinated site permitting with the City of Lackawanna. Krog Development will be bringing the facility that has been empty for 13 years back to usable condition. U.S. Glove Supply will start with one production line and expects to grow to 12 over the next five years. Initially they will hire 36 people and invest $6M with plans to triple the workforce in three years.