By Bill Wolcott
BUFFALO — Niagara County calls itself the highest-taxed county in the nation. How has Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s billion-dollar business boost affected Lockport, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda?
Stakeholders in Niagara County who attended the speech were encouraged that Niagara County will get a fair share of the state economic incentive funds the governor announced last week.
Cuomo stood before a large banner proclaiming “Building a New N.Y. … with you” — the theme of the campaign he rolled out in Albany last week and reiterated at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center on Wednesday. His executive budget pitch, sometimes rousing, advised the Queen City of the Lakes to forget the past and focus on the future.
Cuomo wants the state to invest $1 billion into Western New York, but residents outside Erie County wonder how will that money will be divvied up.
“We’ll see what plans we come up with and what strategies,” Cuomo said. “We’re looking for the business community here to come up with a long-term plan to attract businesses that are going to bring back jobs. We’ll know exactly where it is and what the consequences will be.”
Cuomo changed the way the state gave out money for economic development projects after taking office last year. Ten regional economic development councils were created in lieu of a centralized effort in Albany under his predecessors.
The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council is the driver of where the money will be invested, according to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. The Western New York region is made up of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties.
Deanna Alterio Brennen, president and CEO of Niagara USA Chamber, attended the Cuomo pep talk. She is the Niagara County resident on the council.
“Everyone knew there would be competition,” she said. “We were told to leave our agendas and egos at the door and come in and work together.”
In Western New York, $100.3 million has been awarded to 96 projects. Many first-round projects went to Niagara County, totaling $8.7 million.
Cuomo met with state Sen. George Maziarz and members of the state Assembly delegation last week. “He envisions this as a regional incentive package,” Maziarz said. “ It’s a competitive grant system. Niagara County made out well in those grants.”
Maziarz said that he gets calls from Cuomo a couple times a week.
The Newfane Republican added, “I think the fact that he chose me to introduce him today is indicative of the fact that he works across the aisle.”
There has been competition and disagreement, but also cooperation.
“That’s been the beauty of this,” Brennen said. “Five counties coming together. It’s been great. All the counties have projects coming. It’s a great experience.”
Mark Poloncarz said he doesn’t want to see an office park 30 miles outside the city of Buffalo because Buffalo is not going to benefit from it.
“We’ll be cooperating to the extent we find the right business to work with,” the new Erie County executive said. “Right now we’re working. The one thing the governor said, it’s in our hands. He’s not going to be out there publicly advocating on a daily basis to spend this billion dollars. We’re the ones who have to go out there and find the money and he put it in the hands of the Western New York Regional Council to be the driver on that. It’s important that the Western New York Council take the lead and that includes people from all across the Western New York, not just Erie County.”
Brennen found Cuomo’s speech very motivational and exciting, noting that the region not only has the opportunity, but the responsibility.
The WNY Council is led by Satish K. Tripathi, president of University at Buffalo, and Howard A. Zemsky, the managing partner at Larkin Development Group.
http://tonawanda-news.com/local/x1669703327/Cuomo-outlines-WNY-redevelopment-plan