New York State’s second largest city, Buffalo, first made its mark at the turn of the last century due in large part to its proximity to Niagara Falls and hydroelectricity as well as the Erie Canal as a gateway for commerce. Buffalo’s reputation went into freefall late in the 20th century with the decline in so-called Rust Belt manufacturing mostly associated with the coal, steel, and automotive industries.
These days, that belt in Buffalo is shining a lot brighter, thanks to a combination of state incentives and workforce development programs that have transformed the city into an advanced manufacturing center.
This week’s featured Industry Today article explains how Buffalo has arisen from its rusty ashes to become, as Thomas A. Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, writes, “home to a $13.2B manufacturing sector, which is the third-largest employer in the Buffalo Niagara economy, comprising 69,167 individuals. And contrary to national trends, the city’s manufacturing workforce is projected to grow by 1.2% in the next five years.”
Companies such as Plug Power, which is investing in a new hydrogen fuel production facility at the 1250-acre Western New York Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP), Electrovaya’s first U.S. gigafactory to produce lithium-ion batteries, and the new Edwards semiconductor supply chain facility, are investing in Buffalo due to:
- Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC), Buffalo’s signature workforce development program offering training, co-op, internship and permanent employment opportunities
- 0% state corporate income tax
- Low-cost Niagara River hydropower
- Strategic location along the Canadian-American border
- Access to major interstate highways, railroads, and cargo ports
Read the complete article, 21st Century Manufacturing Thriving in Buffalo, NY.
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Susan Poeton 