ERIE COUNTY, NY – Peter Anderson, spokesperson from Mark Poloncarz’s campaign, praised the recent plan from the Buffalo Niagara Partnership that will focus on partnering with Canada to stimulate Erie County’s economy.
“As an attorney, Mark Poloncarz frequently traveled to Toronto for international business and witnesses firsthand the opportunities that we are not taking advantage of in our close proximity to Canada,” Anderson said. “Mark believes Erie County should be the de facto gateway for Canadian businesses to expand into the United States. As County Executive, Mark will work aggressively to find innovative and mutually beneficial ways to partner with Canadian businesses.”
Mark Poloncarz released his economic development plan on September 14, 2011, entitled “Growing Jobs: Creating an Economic Development System that Works for Erie County,” part of which called for an aggressive expansion into Canada. Poloncarz will task his Deputy County Executive as his “Jobs Czar” to focus exclusively on economic development by working with existing partners, including the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (BNP), to court Canadian businesses. The Jobs Czar will hold monthly stakeholder meetings with these local development entities so that everyone is working together toward the improvement of Erie County’s economy.
“Erie County has not been innovative enough when it comes to partnering with our friends to the north,” Anderson said. “Mark Poloncarz has repeatedly pledged to stop the infighting between cities, towns and villages in Erie County. We should not be working against one another, but together as a county to generate new business coming into the county. As County Executive, Mark looks forward to working with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and other development agencies to work toward a bright economic future in Erie County.”