Is the Falls in on Buffalo’s billion?

Local News

January 4, 2012

By Mark Scheer Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Thu Jan 05, 2012, 02:59 PM EST

NIAGARA FALLS — The City of Buffalo is set to receive $1 billion for economic development initiatives, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced during the State of the State address on Wednesday afternoon.

But it may not be all Buffalo’s.

Mayor Paul Dyster said he’s confident the city of Niagara Falls will have an opportunity to compete for a portion of the $1 billion in economic development assistance Cuomo promised on Wednesday.

Dyster said it is his understanding that although the bulk of the assistance will be delivered to Buffalo, the initiative will be regional in nature.

“I think this has the chance to be a real gamechanger for Western New York,” he said.

Dyster said Niagara Falls also will likely benefit from Cuomo’s continued support of the regional economic development council initiative he unveiled last year. The program resulted in state funds being allocated to the culinary arts center in Niagara Falls and Dyster believes it will continue to support local projects in the future.

“He’s got a track record of getting done what he says he’s going to get done and he’s put a laser light on Western New York,” Dyster said of Cuomo.

Presenting his plan for 2012, Cuomo gave a broad vision with few details including billions of dollars for tourism, infrastructure, education and the possibility of an economic renaissance for upstate New York — a region that has seen declines in population and jobs for nearly a half century, which Cuomo broached in noting the city has the third highest poverty rate in the nation, with 28 percent of its populace impoverished.

“New York is stronger when ever region of the state is strong,” Cuomo said. “We must address the crisis in Western New York, and Buffalo specifically. This is another issue that has gone on for many, many years, while the state sat by and did not take dramatic action.”

According to a statement from Cuomo, the arrangement will be a multi-year deal and will be used to invite large investments from the private sector. Cuomo said he anticipates creating thousands of jobs, a sentiment that has been parroted by state leaders before, while predicting the investment will spur $5 billion in new investment and economic activity.

Cuomo presented few aspects of the plan only saying that the economic development package would include tax incentives, low-cost power and grant money as part of the stimulus. The move would be in addition to $100 million doled out to 96 businesses in the region in December through a competitive grant process. He also announced that a similar offering would be available in the coming months through state Regional Economic Development Councils, totaling $200 million.

The governor compared the prospect in Western New York to the hi-tech industry in Albany, where a state-backed initiative has led to growth in business there, including a world-class center for nanotechnology and several major semiconductor manufacturers.

“If we did it in Albany we can do it in Buffalo,” he said “It’s gone on for too long and its going to stop today.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Legislation protecting Falls air base units moves forward
The effort to protect jobs at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station got a boost from a committee in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Korean student robbed at gunpoint in Falls
Detectives are investigating the robbery of a 25-year-old woman Wednesday night in front of a motel in the 400 block of Main Street.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Davis will not seek Murphy removal
Lawyers for accused killer Matthew “Bones” Davis say their client will not ask to have Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III removed from his case.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Labor group laments economic development efforts
Economic development in New York state has become a joke to some in the area. And many of them are demanding changes to a process which spends approximately $3 billion a year.

May 24, 2012
Repaving work on Old Military Road rises to $790K
Sometimes a change is good. Sometimes a change is bad. For the Town of Lewiston, a change can be pretty costly.

May 24, 2012
Fifth-grader presents list of 400 names asking for new playground
A 10-year-old boy carrying a petition containing more than 400 signatures asked members of the Niagara Falls School Board on Thursday to consider building a new playground at his school.

May 24, 2012
Bomb threat leads to arrest at NT school
A North Tonawanda teen was arrested Thursday morning for sending a one-sentence bomb threat to the computer of a fellow high school student, resulting in a brief lockdown of the school.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Sense of resignation on AES pact
May 24, 2012
Marching to the new veterans memorial
It's the unofficial beginning of summer.

Memorial Day may mean cookouts with hot dogs and hamburgers, a trip on the river in a boat or simply a day off from work Monday.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
Fugitive in meth case caught
Moments after Falls police narcotics detectives and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents uncovered a clandestine meth lab in the city's Echota neightborhood, their prime suspect sent a cryptic text message to Detective Joe Palmero.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
More Local News Headlines

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?